Invisalign Teen® in Killeen, TX

What is Invisalign Teen®?

Invisalign Teen® consists of a series of clear, plastic aligners that are worn directly over the teeth – no metal brackets or orthodontic wires are required.

How Does Invisalign Teen® Work?

Each aligner is shaped slightly different and gradually shifts your teeth into the desired position. The series of aligners are worn for one to two weeks each, in order to get the full effect from it.

The unique technology of Invisalign Teen® equips the aligners with special indicators that tell us when each one has been worn for enough time to properly work. We understand that with school, sports, and a social life, teens are very busy. If the aligners aren’t worn for the recommended amount of time, it can take longer than two weeks for each aligner to fulfill its purpose. The indicator is used as a tool to show us, parents and teens, what the patient's compliance is like.

The Invisalign Teen® Advantage?

In addition to their noticeable appearance, metal braces can also interfere with a teenager’s busy lifestyle, making it harder to talk, participate in sports, and even play certain instruments. Thankfully, Invisalign Teen® uses the state-of-the-art technology of Invisalign® in order to help these younger patients reach their smile goals without disrupting their daily routine.

While for most, the invisibility is reason enough to go with Invisalign Teen®, there are other benefits when compared to traditional braces. They include:

• Better hygiene: Metal wires and brackets have too many areas that trap food particles which can be nearly impossible to remove. This leads to cavities, gum irritation, and decalcification of the tooth enamel. Since aligners are removed to eat and drink, all of these issues are eliminated, too.
• Easier to clean: With removable aligners, you can take them out to brush and floss your teeth. No special brushes of flossers are needed like with traditional braces.
• No food restrictions: Eat whatever you want. You can even chew gum!
• Less pain: The metal from traditional braces can cause cuts and ulcers in your mouth. With Invisalign Teen®, you may experience some soreness the first day of a new tray - but other than that they’re pain-free.

Aesthetics isn’t the only reason you should consider orthodontics for your child. Invisalign Teen® can also fix bit problems that may have developed. These types of issues left untreated can cause a number of problems to your teen. Not only do bite deformities affect your mouth, but your health can be compromised as well. An improper bite can cause excessive wear and pain to the teeth, and TMJ problems can hurt the jaw, ear, neck and even the head.

The Invisalign Teen® Process

In order to get the aligners made we need a replica of your mouth. We get this by either taking a digital intraoral scan, or impressions which get sent to Invisalign®. There, your aligners are custom designed and fabricated with your goals and comfort in mind.

Once the aligners are ready, you’ll come to our office for your initial placement appointment. Now, remember, Invisalign Teen® doesn’t use metal brackets to guide the teeth to shift. Rather, it works by bonding a natural colored “button” to the front of your tooth. Don’t worry, the material used is as invisible as the aligner itself. The number of “buttons” you’ll need, will be pre-determined by your treatment plan.

You’ll be given several aligners to take home with you. Make sure you keep them in a safe place so that you can keep up with them. Wear your aligners for a minimum of 22 hours a day. Take them out only to eat, drink, or clean your teeth. About every two weeks you’ll insert a new aligner. Once you’ve used your last one, you’ll return to our office.

The process for an Invisalign® treatment course is fairly straightforward. Our team will meet with your teenager every 4 - 6 weeks to evaluate their bite’s improvement and provide the next series of aligners. With two orthodontists on staff, parents can trust in our extensive experience and skill that comes with helping patients achieve the dazzling and healthy smile improvements that they need.

Once patients complete the predetermined number of aligners for the correct period of time, they’ll undergo a customized retention maintenance protocol. This can be either a retainer or a lingual wire that will hold your teeth in place and keep them from shifting again.

Long Does Invisalign Teen® Take?

When you come in for your consultation we’ll take a look at your teen’s teeth and we’ll have an idea of how many aligners they’ll need. This is also what determines how long the alignment process will take. Generally speaking, Invisalign® and Invisalign Teen® take less time than traditional braces to get the same results. The average treatment time is about 12 months.

Once we have the scans or impressions of your teeth, we’ll send them to Invisalign® and work together with their alignment specialists to create a treatment plan for your teen. Before deciding to move forward, if you’d like, you can return for a second consultation and we can tell you exactly how many aligners you’ll need. At this appointment, we can even show you a simulated outcome of your new smile. (How cool is that?)

Come See the Experts in Invisalign Teen®

Our specialized team has the smile goals and comfort needs of your teen in mind. We’re the leading provider of Invisalign Teen® in Harker Heights, TX. Trust your teens smile to the experts. Give us a call today!