When Can Children Get Invisalign Treatment?
For many kids, the idea of getting braces isn’t a pleasant one. More than likely, they’ve seen their friends wear these shiny metal contraptions on their teeth, and they know they don’t want to have to go through the same process. Thankfully, with the advancement of dental technology, kids have another option. They have the opportunity to visit an Invisalign doctor.
How the Process Works
When it comes to this treatment, instead of using metal braces that are glued to the child’s teeth, there are a set of Invisalign clear aligners that they wear. In essence, they look like retainers. There are a series of them that slowly and discreetly move the child’s teeth into the proper alignment.
Some advantages to this process don’t exist with traditional metal braces. For example, they allow your child to eat whatever foods they want to eat because they can be removed and then placed back in. Your child also has the ability to eat and floss as they normally would, which can contribute to better hygiene. These aligners also do their job without irritating the child’s gums and cheeks, reducing the chances of cuts and bleeding occurring.
What Age Can Kids Wear the Invisalign Clear Aligners?
There is no age limit on when kids can get the Invisalign treatment. It will be up to the dentist and parents to determine if they believe the child will be capable of taking care of the aligners and their teeth properly. Some things to consider are the following:
Is the child responsible and will remember to put the aligners back in?
The only way this treatment works is if your child wears their aligners. If they are often forgetful and won’t remember to put these back in after they eat, then this may not be the best option for them. If it’s possible that they’ll forget them on the lunch tray at school or another place, then it may be more advantageous to put them in metal braces.
Is the child active with sports?
Having braces and playing sports can be a recipe for disaster. Even if your child has in a mouthguard, they may still find that the metal braces cut their gums and cheeks, and this can be incredibly painful. The guards may not protect the wires from getting broken, and getting these fixed can be a pain.
If your child is active in sports and you want to reduce the chance of injury or broken braces wires, then Invisalign treatment might be the best option. The liners certainly won’t lead to cuts and scrapes, and it’s possible to still wear mouth guards for an extra layer of protection.
If you are considering this option to align your child’s teeth, make an appointment with an Invisalign doctor today. The professionals at Markham 7 Dental will answer any questions you might have and let you know if this option will work for your child.
