You may be surprised that Your child’s mouth has a mixture of primary and permanent teeth from ages 6 to 10, which may be the perfect time to start orthodontic treatment. With Invisalign® First, your child’s dentist can evaluate and proactively prescribe orthodontic treatment to correct your child’s bite early on without jaw surgery.
At California Dental Innovations, Dr. Mina Levi considers multiple factors to help you decide if your child is ready to start early orthodontic treatment. If you are considering orthodontics for your children, read the eight advantages of Invisalign® First and schedule a children’s orthodontic evaluation in San Francisco by calling 415-513-5066 or booking online right now.
1. Invisalign® First serves as an early intervention.
Even if your child isn’t bothered by how their smile looks, it’s worth knowing if clear braces may optimize their oral health. Invisalign® First can:
- Develop young jaws and arches to make room for existing and incoming adult teeth
- Avoid simple to complex issues (such as crowding, tooth protrusions, and spacing)
- Help with bad oral habits (for example, thumb sucking)
2. Invisalign® is just as effective as braces.
Are you concerned that clear aligner therapy simply won’t work? Although your dentist can determine if your child is a candidate for Invisalign® First, recent research suggests that Invisalign® can be as effective as traditional braces in correcting mild to moderate alignment issues.
3. They may help boost confidence–during and after treatment.
Parents often forget that metal braces can be just as embarrassing as the alignment problem they are trying to fix. Thankfully, “brace face” may be a phrase your child never has to hear with Invisalign® because they are virtually undetectable.
4. Invisalign® First is crafted from a comfortable material.
Invisalign® manufacturers fabricate their trays from medical-grade plastic, which is smooth to the touch and biocompatible.
5. Clear aligners allow for more freedom for extracurricular activities.
Is your child a young athlete? If so, you don’t have to worry about children accidentally bumping into each other and damaging their oral soft tissues, like with traditional metal braces. Though, we recommend a mouthguard for all patients who play contact sports.
6. No diet restrictions.
As parents, we know it can be challenging to force your kids to eat things they dislike (and keep them away from foods they love). The good news about Invisalign® is that wearers can remove them before meals, so they can eat basically whatever they want (without worrying about food sticking to brackets and wires).
7. Clear aligners are easy to clean–which may mean healthy gums and fewer cavities.
You may be shocked to discover that Invisalign® patients have healthier gums than patients with fixed braces. Because clear aligners are removable, it’s much easier to clean the teeth (and crevices in between).
8. Parents can still tell if their kids are wearing their aligners.
Some parents prefer traditional braces because they are permanently fixed to the teeth and can only be removed by an orthodontist. Since clear aligner trays are removable, it’s natural to worry about keeping your child accountable and on track during treatment.
Thankfully, Invisalign® First has indicators installed in the trays that show parents if their children are wearing their trays as intended (even when they are not around).:
- The will indicators fade away if your child is wearing the trays as prescribed.
- You’ll notice tiny blue dots on the back of the trays when removed if they are not worn as intended.
If your child is not wearing Invisalign® First as prescribed, schedule an appointment with your dentist so that she can intervene and encourage your child to establish a plan for orthodontic success.
Should your child start Invisalign® First?
Dr. Mina Levi can evaluate your child’s unique case to help determine whether Invisalign® First is a suitable option. Reserve an appointment at California Dental Innovations by calling 415-513-5066 or conveniently scheduling online.