What Is an Ideal Age for Invisalign®?

Going through an Invisalign® treatment means wearing the clear aligners for 20-22 hours each day. This will happen for two weeks before a new set of aligners comes in. Removing the aligners only occurs during eating and dental care. This type of treatment needs discipline and responsibility. That is why there is an ideal age for it. If you want to know the ideal age to get Invisalign, here are the details.

Invisalign for kids

There is always the question of being able to follow instructions at a young age. Parents cannot keep an eye on their children at all times. Knowing if the child can be independent during the treatment is important. Teaching the children how long they should wear the aligners is crucial to the treatment. The child should keep the aligners on for about 22 hours.

The dentist may recommend Invisalign for children aged 6-10. The children with this treatment should always be under supervision. Invisalign’s Phase 1 treatment is to develop the dental arches and jaws in young children. This is important in making room for the incoming adult teeth. Phase 1 can put a stop to worsening bite problems. It also helps straighten teeth, shorten orthodontic treatments, and discourage thumb-sucking.

Invisalign for teenagers

This clear aligner treatment is effective for misaligned teen teeth. Teens should have most of their adult teeth before getting clear aligners. The most important factor for a dentist to consider teens for Invisalign is discipline. Wearing clear aligners for at least 20 hours a day is crucial. A lack of discipline will not result in a successful teeth-alignment treatment.

There is a safeguard for parents whose teens are wearing Invisalign long enough during the day. A discreet blue dot on the aligner’s exterior will help the parents keep an eye on their teen’s progress. This dot will let them know if the teen is wearing the aligners enough. The blue dot’s existence will be only for the parents to know.

The right age for Invisalign

This alignment treatment is most effective in adult patients. Patients from early 20 to 80 years old can have successful outcomes. The results are often life-changing in adults getting Invisalign. The dentist will look at the adult patient’s bone density, which is the key to the patient’s qualification for clear aligners.

Adult patients are the ideal candidates for this teeth-straightening treatment. People in this stage of development have the discipline and commitment to the treatment. They know what to do with the clear aligners and how long to wear them. These patients also understand how to keep the aligners clean.

Treatment period

Invisalign will take some time to complete. That is why this treatment is suitable for people who can commit to this treatment. On average, the patient should wear the aligners for about a year. The patient must know when to take the aligners off and how long to keep them on. Eating, drinking, and playing contact sports can stain or damage the trays. Cleaning the aligners properly can help maintain the almost invisible effect.

Other things a patient should know

Getting this treatment is not always easy at first. The aligners will feel uncomfortable because of the push and pull on the affected teeth. This discomfort will tell the patient that the process is effective. Each tray will target a specific set of teeth to realign. This will happen each time the patient changes to a new set of trays.

Removing the clear aligners is important during eating and drinking. Keeping the aligners on during these activities will discolor them. This will result in an unattractive smile. Eating and drinking with these aligners will keep the food particles around the teeth. This will allow the bacteria to feed. The acids these bacteria give off while eating will cause decay and cavities.

The treatment will continue even after wearing the aligners. Wearing retainers is in order. These dental appliances will keep the aligned teeth in place as the jawbone heals. The patient must wear these retainers while sleeping at night. Some patients may forget to wear them at night. For them, there are retainers that the dentist can place behind the teeth.

Invisalign is most effective in adults

Orthodontic treatments can start at six or seven years old. It can even begin during the teen years. Children will need close supervision while on this treatment. Teens need constant reminders with minor supervision. The ideal age is early adulthood. This can provide the discipline the Invisalign treatment needs to become successful.

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