It’s no secret why some children may feel uncomfortable while wearing metal braces. Although certain misalignments can only be fixed with traditional braces, they can cause cosmetic concerns and make day-to-day life a bit more complicated.
Fortunately, for mild to moderate misalignments, there’s the option of clear aligners, which are nearly invisible and are easier to take care of.
Our experts at iSmiles Kids Dentistry and Orthodontics offer Invisalign® for children. Invisalign is a set of clear aligners that straighten teeth without the need for bulky metal braces that may cause discomfort and embarrassment. Read on to find out what benefits Invisalign has for kids.
Metal braces come with some dietary restrictions. Chewy and sticky foods are off the table. In addition, your child might not be able to bite harder foods, such as apples.
Some people lose weight during their first few weeks of wearing braces due to the discomfort and pain that metal brackets can cause, and due to the dietary restrictions.
However, your child can remove their Invisalign aligners while eating. Therefore, they can continue eating a wide range of foods so they’re not at risk for nutritional deficiencies.
Convincing your child to brush on a regular basis is hard enough, but it can be even tougher to convince your child to floss twice per day and use special brushes to clean the food particles between their teeth and around the brackets and metal wires.
The cleaning process takes a lot of work, and because there are so many crooks and crevices, even with good dental hygiene, your child can still develop cavities.
With Invisalign, however, brushing and flossing are painless. Your child can take off the transparent aligners, and brush and floss as they would without braces.
Metal braces put more pressure on the teeth than Invisalign. Invisalign can cause some discomfort, as force is required to shift the teeth, but it is manageable with over-the-counter painkillers.
Traditional braces are higher maintenance. Brackets often need to be replaced, and the wires need to be adjusted on a regular basis.
With Invisalign, dental visits occur anywhere between four and six weeks. During these visits, our specialists check on your child’s progress and create new trays to shift the teeth even closer to their ideal position.
If your child has a misalignment and wants an alternative solution to traditional braces, contact us to schedule an appointment. Our specialists will examine your child’s teeth and bite and let you know if Invisalign is a good treatment option for them.