Are you a teenager who wants to straighten their smile?
If so, our orthodontist Hampshire can help. At Winchester Orthodontics, we can offer our teenage patients a myriad of orthodontic tools; everything from the standard fitted brace to Invisalign aligners.
Here, our orthodontist Hampshire answers questions that our team commonly receives about Invisalign from teenagers. So, read on to learn more.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is one of the more modern orthodontic tools.
Used by our orthodontist Hampshire, this clear (or invisible) aligner can straighten your teeth over an average period of 6 months. Usually, there will be 14 aligners in a set and you will need to wear each one for 2 weeks.
The aligners are custom-fitted to your teeth and are removable, making them one of the most popular and lifestyle-friendly options for orthodontics available.
Does it work in the same way for teens as it does adults?
In essence, yes it does.
We will need to take a 3D scan of your teeth and then put these images into a computer that uses Invisalign software.
From this, we will be able to predict the movement required to obtain the smile you want and then, the aligners are printed using a 3D printer.
Remember, for this aligner to work as predicted, you will need to wear the aligners for a minimum of 22 hours per day, so be sure to keep it in to see the best results.
How old do I have to be to use Invisalign Teen?
Usually, our team can begin your treatment with removable aligners by the age of 12. This is because our team is better able to predict how your teeth will move using this treatment and can create a more accurate care plan for you.
With Invisalign Teen, the average age of starting treatment is 14, which can make the treatment have better long term results, as 14 years old (and older) are more dedicated to wearing the aligners.
How often will I need to see the orthodontist?
This aligner is quite trendy and comes with a downloadable app for your smartphone.
The app will allow you to send our team weekly updates via a photo, which will enable us to make assessments as to whether the aligners are working or not.
However, we will need to see you about every 6-8 weeks for a standard check-up, to once again explore if the aligners are working as planned and to assess if there are any signs of secondary issues, such as gum disease.
How do I store my aligners when I’m playing sports?
When we prescribe you Invisalign, we will also give you a carry case. This will be made from hard plastic, which will protect the aligners from damage when they are stored inside it.
You should also use this carry case to store the aligners when you are eating, drinking anything besides water or brushing your teeth.
We advise against using other storage containers such as pockets in coats etc as these can lead to the aligners becoming damaged. So keep them safe in your Invisalign carry case!
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