At Bayou Braces & Dentistry, we know the importance of caring for young teeth. Our goal is to help promote proper development and establish healthy oral hygiene habits. With Invisalign for kids, we can help your child achieve a brighter and healthier smile, even before getting all of their permanent teeth.
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear plastic aligners to straighten teeth. Invisalign for kids addresses various types of orthodontic concerns while ensuring proper oral development.
Invisalign treatment uses custom-made plastic aligners that fit the unique shape of your child’s teeth. By using state-of-the-art digital imaging, our team can create an accurate mold of your child’s teeth to use for their custom aligners.
Since Invisalign uses a plastic aligner instead of metal wires and brackets, your child can easily remove them to eat and brush their teeth.
How Is Invisalign for Kids Different Than Invisalign for Adults?
Unlike adults, children don’t have all of their permanent teeth yet. The goal of Invisalign for kids is to promote proper jaw and arch development while preparing young mouths for incoming permanent teeth.
Invisalign for adults, on the other hand, is mainly used to straighten misaligned permanent teeth and correct other established oral issues, rather than prevent future problems from arising.
What Are the Benefits of Invisalign for Children?
Your Child Can Eat the Foods They Love
Certain orthodontic treatments require your children to avoid certain foods. Since your child can remove their clear aligners when they eat, they are free to continue eating their favorite foods, including popcorn, gummies, and more.
No Need to Worry About Broken Braces or Wires
Instead of gluing metal brackets to the surface of your child’s teeth, your child’s orthodontist will give them a series of plastic aligners that cover their entire row of teeth. Invisalign clear aligners consist of durable thermoplastic that fits comfortably around your child’s teeth.
Easy for Children to Brush and Floss Their Teeth as They Normally Would
Since your child will remove their aligners when brushing and flossing their teeth, they don’t have to change their oral hygiene routine.
Why Should I Consider Invisalign for My Child?
The best time for children to start seeing an orthodontist is around seven years old. Invisalign for kids, also known as a Phase 1 treatment, helps ensure that your child’s jaw, arch, and teeth develop correctly. In addition, Invisalign treats a wide range of orthodontic concerns.
Treatment times will vary depending on your child’s specific orthodontic needs. Your child’s orthodontist will take the time to learn about your child’s oral health needs and establish an effective treatment plan.
How Should My Child Care for Their Invisalign Aligners?
Invisalign makes it easy for children to care for their aligners. They can use a toothbrush, toothpaste, and warm water to clean their trays and gently brush away food debris. It is crucial for your child’s treatment and oral health to clean their aligners at least once a day.
In addition, your child needs to wear their aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours every day. Instead of using the same tray for the entire duration of their treatment, they will receive a series of aligners that they will need to switch out every couple of weeks. Our team will give your child specific instructions on caring for their aligners and their teeth during treatment.
Can My Child Still Participate in Sports?
We know that children are active and often participate in sports. The good news is that Invisalign is safe for kids to wear during sporting events! The clear aligners act as a mouth guard that protects your child’s teeth while still fixing their tooth alignment.
If your child is uncomfortable wearing them while playing a sport, they can easily remove them. However, they must remember to put them back on when they finish playing.
What Can My Child Eat with Invisalign?
Invisalign for kids allows your child to eat popcorn, candy, chips, and anything else they want. Although there are no food restrictions during treatment, they must remember to remove their trays when eating and clean them at least once a day.
What Are Spark Aligners for Kids?
Our orthodontic team may also discuss with you another set of clear aligners we offer. Spark Aligners are offered to our orthodontic patients as an alternative to Invisalign. Your child may not want to have anything noticeable on their smile and with Spark Aligners, you won’t have to worry. This aligner set is known to be even more clear than Invisalign and was designed to be more comfortable than the popular aligner brand. Your child may be a better fit for either aligner set depending on tooth placement and existing dental history. Speak with our orthodontic team to learn more.