Invisalign is a series of clear plastic orthodontic aligners that straighten your teeth much like braces do. Invisalign features a line designed specifically for teenagers. Here, our Surrey dentist explain how Invisalign Teen is different.
First of all, a few notes about what Invisalign is, and how it works.
Invisalign aligners are removable, clear plastic aligners that come in a series. Each aligner in the series is worn for about two weeks, at which point it is switched out for the next aligner.
Each aligner is slightly different from the last, and has been custom made for its position in the lineup. Each straightens your teeth in tiny increments, until treatment is complete and your teeth have been moved into their new, straightened positions.
Because the aligners are made of clear plastic, they are virtually invisible when worn. This makes them ideal for teens and adults alike who are concerned about aesthetics and don’t like the look of traditional metal braces.
And because the aligners are removable, they can be taken out to eat, and to brush and floss, meaning no alterations have to be made to these daily routines.
So what makes Invisalign Teen different?
Invisalign Teen has a few features that are not available for standard Invisalign treatment. These features were developed with busy teenagers in mind, to help them remain compliant with their treatment, and to work better with their growing smiles.
Invisalign Teen is the same as standard Invisalign in all the basics, but also includes the following additional features.
Compliance Indicators
Invisalign Teen aligners have small blue dots that fade away after two weeks of consistent wear. Because teens on average tend to be less compliant to their prescribed treatment than adults (meaning they're likelier to take their aligners our more often and for longer periods than prescribed), it can be easy for them to lose track of how much longer they need to wear a given set of aligners.
The compliance indicators will only fade after the aligners have been worn for two full weeks, making it easier for teens to get back on track with their orthodontic treatment.
Eruption Tabs
Invisalign teen can be prescribed for teens whose adult teeth are not finished growing in thanks to the addition of eruption tabs. These eruption tabs are essentially spaces in the Invisalign Teen aligners that allow the teeth to erupt through.
6 Extra Replacement Aligners
Due in part to the lack of compliance mentioned above, teens are also more likely to misplace or damage their aligners during treatment. For this reason, Invisalign Teen includes 6 replacement aligners so that treatment can stay on track.