Pros and Cons to Invisalign® Treatment For Teens

This post was sponsored by the Invisalign^® brand and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

As my 11-year-old continues her Invisalign^® treatment journey, she has realized there are pros and cons to Invisalign treatment for teens. Luckily there are far more pros than cons, but when making decisions for orthodontic treatment for your kids, I think it’s important to weigh them both. Each child is different. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about Invisalign treatment for teens.

Pros and Cons to Invisalign Treatment for Teens

After we made the decision for Invisalign treatment for our tween, she went back to Northern Virginia Orthodontics about 4 weeks later to receive her first set of aligners. I describe the feeling as nervocited.

She was so excited to finally start her Invisalign treatment, yet still nervous about the unknown. Luckily, they put her at ease, explained how to put in and take out her Invisalign aligners, and gave her a case plus some goodies to help her clean them!

Give my girl a gift, and she’s happy. They had her try to put in the aligners herself, gave her some instructions, and then Dr. Barcoma came in to double check that everything was okay and to ask if she had any questions. Check the Doctor Locator to find an Invisalign-trained provider in your area.

First time with the clear aligners in, can you see them? Now that she’s had them for about 2 months, let’s go over the pros and cons of Invisalign treatment for teens!

You Want Peeps? No problem!

One of the biggest pros is being able to eat whatever you want. There are no restrictions meaning, with traditional braces, you can’t eat sticky candy or popcorn or even crunchy foods like carrots and apples, that could get stuck in the wires or damage them. How can you enjoy a movie without popcorn or Sour Patch Kids? The humanity.

With Invisalign treatment, just pop out your aligners and place them in their case. 

With that awesome privilege also comes great responsibility. You have to remember to put the aligners back in. Optimal wear time for Invisalign aligners is 22 hours a day. My girl has gotten into the habit of carrying her case with her wherever she goes.

However, if you have a child that’s not very responsible, then you may want to consider if they can handle being able to wear their aligners most of the day. One solution is an optional feature called compliance indicators. These are blue dots on the side of the aligners that fade with wear so a parent and doctor will know whether the child has been wearing them as recommended by the appears of the dot.

We’re Wild About Safety

One of the main reasons we chose the Invisalign system is because it has no sharp metal wires or brackets, so there are no emergency appointments from metal during sports activities. My daughter plays volleyball and basketball, and sometimes she gets balls to the face.

We’ve seen traditional braces injuries to the gums and mouth with sports, and it’s not pretty and usually involves blood. Gross.

Plus, she can easily participate in all our vacation activities without worry. Nothing’s stopping my girl from living her best life.

No Pain No Gain

I’ve always disliked that saying, “No pain, no gain.” Things don’t have to hurt to get results. I remember having to give my daughters pain medication when they would go in for tightenings with braces. They always tried to get out of school on their appointment days. Sorry, girls, not working with me.

While some discomfort or pressure is to be expected during the beginning of treatment, Invisalign aligners are more comfortable than braces. When she changes her aligners every week, they are tight. And if you forget to wear them overnight, then you’ll feel it in the morning when you put them back in, but she’s been able to avoid injuries from broken wires and brackets. Her teeth gradually shift into place.

With the help of tooth-colored attachments, you can make complex tooth movements possible without braces. Bottom line, it works. I’ve already seen movement since she’s been wearing her aligners, and after completing my own Invisalign treatment, my own teeth are proof that Invisalign treatment works because it is the most advanced clear aligner system in the world.

Hey Look Ma, I Made It!

Really it comes down to confidence. My daughter is starting middle school in the fall, which isn’t always the funnest time. Oh, how I remember being called brace face and having food stuck in my brackets during class.

With Invisalign aligners, most people can’t even tell you’re wearing them! My girl has been super happy with her experience so far, and I’m thrilled to see her smile all the time!

Visit the Parent page for more information about Invisalign treatment for your teen or tween and to answer any questions you may have to get started with this free smile assessment!