Invisalign - Pelham, NH

Crowded Teeth

When teeth sit too close to each other, it can cause problems to develop throughout the mouth, including tooth decay, gum disease, and other serious dental issues. Previously, traditional braces were the only option. Now, there’s another one: Invisalign. With the clear, custom-made aligners, your teen’s teeth will slowly separate and allow for additional space. Not only will the final result be a beautiful smile, but it will also be easier for your child to brush and floss!

Gaps Between Teeth

Since food particles, plaque, and other debris can easily get trapped in the open spaces, gapped teeth can pose an equally serious problem. Fortunately, many teens struggling with this orthodontic problem are candidates for Invisalign! If that’s the case for your child, then we will have a custom series of clear aligners made to bring their teeth back together, eliminating unnecessary spaces in the process.

Overbite

Now you might be wondering, “Does Invisalign fix bite problems?” The short answer is “yes!” In fact, Invisalign has helped millions of patients with mild to moderate overbites. Sometimes, this requires additional orthodontic accessories, like buttons and rubber bands, but they are considerably more discreet than traditional brackets and wires, which image-conscious teens love.

Underbite

Do your teen’s lower teeth sit in front of their upper ones? If so, they likely have an underbite. Unfortunately, even in mild cases, this bite problem can lead to everything from chronic jaw pain to trouble chewing properly. There is good news though: Invisalign is capable of moving their teeth in the right direction and allowing for an improved appearance and better oral health.

Crossbite

If your child has a crossbite, we recommend bringing them to our office so we can determine how severe it is and review their treatment options. If Invisalign is one of them, and your teen is ready to commit to the responsibilities that come with clear aligners, we will get to work on creating their custom treatment plan. Before long, they’ll have the balanced, healthy, and beautiful smile they deserve.

Open Bite

Open bites, like the others on this list, can lead to several problems. That’s why we recommend coming in for a consultation sooner rather than later! With Invisalign, we can move their teeth and bite into proper alignment, preventing chronic jaw pain caused by a poorly aligned bite as well as excessive wear and tear on tooth enamel.

Shorter Average Treatment Timeline

Typically, patients wear traditional braces for two years or more. Invisalign, however, can deliver results in just 8-14 months. In fact, if your teen’s case of malocclusion is pretty minor, their treatment timeline may be even shorter! At their consultation, we will provide an estimate as well as helpful tips on how to avoid unwanted delays.

Easy to Clean

Like many other children, your teen may need a lot of motivation to brush and floss consistently. Fortunately, keeping their aligners clean won’t require an extensive regimen or expensive products. All they need to do is use a soft-bristled toothbrush, clear, mild dish soap, and cool water to gently scrub the surface each morning and night.

Removable Aligners

Another reason Invisalign is a great solution for busy teens is that the aligners are removable. So, if they are going to a big event, like prom, they are playing football, or they are taking their driver’s license photo, they can take them off! The key is making sure to put the trays back on when they’re finished. That way, they don’t fall off-track with their treatment plan.

No Dietary Restrictions

While traditional braces come with dietary restrictions, Invisalign doesn’t. That said, it is important that your teen doesn’t over-indulge on foods and drinks that increase their risk of cavities. After all, if any oral health problems arise, their teeth-straightening journey will be put temporarily on hold. So, eating healthy, well-balanced meals the majority of the time is key.

Virtually Invisible Trays

Of course, one of the biggest perks is that Invisalign aligners are clear. So, they won’t draw any unwanted attention to your child’s smile. In fact, their classmates and close friends probably won’t notice the trays unless they know what to look for. As a result, they can smile with complete confidence throughout their orthodontic treatment!

Completely Metal-Free

Metal-free aligners aren’t just discreet; they are comfortable! They are crafted from smooth plastic that fits the contours of their mouth perfectly too, which means they likely won’t experience any soft tissue irritation. Of course, if that does arise, they can use dental wax to easily remedy the situation!

Wearing the Trays

In order to stay on-track with their treatment plan, your teen needs to wear their aligners for a minimum of 20 hours a day. One perk of Invisalign Teen is that the aligners have a blue indicator dot, so we can see how well your child is complying with the daily wear time. If they are having trouble meeting the mark, we share helpful tips, like using the stopwatch on their phone as a guide.

Cleaning the Aligners

In addition to brushing and flossing consistently, your teen will need to clean their aligners. Fortunately, this doesn’t take a lot of time or require special, expensive dental care products. In fact, your teen needs just two things: a soft-bristled toothbrush and clear, mild dishwashing liquid. Outside of that, just do your best to reinforce good habits, like soaking the aligners for 15 minutes each day in an orthodontist-recommended cleaning solution.

Eating & Drinking

One of the many perks of Invisalign is that there aren’t any dietary restrictions. So, your child doesn’t need to remove apples, carrots, tortilla chips, popcorn, and other crunchy foods from their diet. They do, however, need to eat mostly healthy, well-balanced meals to help keep their teeth and gums healthy. After all, the development of tooth decay or any other oral health problems will bring their orthodontic treatment to a temporary stop.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

While removable braces come with countless perks, they also can get lost or damaged. That’s why it’s so important for your child to incorporate good habits into their routine, like placing their aligners in the designated case when they aren’t wearing them. With all of that said, accidents sometimes happen. If your child accidentally breaks or misplaces one of their aligners, call us ASAP so we can determine the best way to get them back on-track with their treatment plan.

Attending Routine Check-Ins

Good news: there aren’t monthly adjustment appointments with Invisalign. There are, however, progress visits, which usually take place every 6-8 weeks. These are crucial because they allow us to see if your teen’s teeth are tracking properly. If they aren’t, we can pinpoint why that is, determine if any adjustments need to be made to their treatment plan, and try to get them back on-track.