Invisalign Teen

Many dentists advise against Invisalign treatment for young teenagers mainly due to compliance issues as they believe that some teenagers may not wear the brace for the recommended length of time, or that the brace may be misplaced when removed. This is why the Invisalign Laboratory have created the Invisalign Teen system, which has a few safeguards against these problems.

Is Invisalign Teen similar to Invisalign for adults?

Yes, treatment is very similar between the adult and teen versions:

  • A series of clear aligners will be made from a 3D model of the teeth, these are replaced every 2 weeks by the next aligner in the sequence, slowly aligning the teeth.
  • Treatment usually takes between 6 months to a year and a half to be completed.
  • The removable aligners make eating and dental hygiene easy.
  • They are much more comfortable than traditional wire braces.

How does Invisalign Teen differ from adult Invisalign treatment?

One of the problems in allowing teenagers to be treated with removable aligners is that the aligners may be misplaced or damaged while they are not being worn. Invisalign Teen provides the wearer with replacement aligners, free of charge.

While the aligners are almost invisible, some teenagers may still feel self-conscious while wearing the brace and may lengthen their treatment time and increase the cost by not wearing it for at least 20 hours a day. Invisalign Teen allows parents and dentists to monitor how treatment is progressing because the aligners contain marker tabs. These tabs change colour to indicate when to replace the aligner with the next one in the treatment sequence. This way the parents will be able to tell whether their child is wearing their aligner for long enough each day.

How much does Invisalign Teen Cost?

Invisalign Teen can cost in the region of £3000, but this will depend upon the length and type of treatment required. Also, the treatment may cost more if the aligner is not worn for the recommended daily time.

Suitability for Invisalign Teen

Invisalign Teen cannot be used to treat severe orthodontic irregularities. The aligners should be considered by those suffering from spacing issues, such as overcrowding or gaps between teeth, or anyone who may have a problem with their bite. Your orthodontist will be able to advise you whether to consider this treatment at the first consultation, you will also be given some indication of the cost of the treatment.

Things to remember

  • Despite the coloured markers, the patient has a lot of control over the treatment, if you believe that the teenager may not be committed to wearing the aligner 20 hours a day, this may not be the right treatment for them.
  • Replacement aligners are provided free of charge.
  • Regular checkups are required, so you may want to consider an orthodontist within easy reach.

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