Are you wondering “When is my child ready for Invisalign®?” At Dr. Heather F. Fleschler‘s office, we understand that choosing the right orthodontic treatment at the right time is important for your child’s health and confidence.
Dr. Fleschler, a board-certified dentist with over 20 years of experience, is known for providing exceptional cosmetic and general dentistry care. A fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an honor awarded to only 7% of dentists nationwide, Dr. Fleschler is well known in and around Houston for her empathetic approach. She’s dedicated to offering your child the best smile protection and teeth straightening. But does that mean they’re ready for Invisalign? Read on to find out.
The Right Age for Invisalign
Invisalign can be a great option for children with mild to moderate orthodontic issues, such as crooked, overbite, underbite, crossbite, or crowded teeth. Children should have most of their permanent teeth before starting Invisalign, which typically happens around age 12 or 13. However, every child is different, and some may be ready earlier.
Non-Age Considerations for Invisalign
Age isn’t the only factor to consider when determining if your child is ready for Invisalign. Invisalign requires discipline and commitment.
Your child must wear their aligners for at least 22 hours daily for the best results. However, not wearing aligners enough is a common issue with teens. In fact, Invisalign Teen aligners feature compliance indicators – small dots that reveal whether they’re wearing them properly. If aligners aren’t worn properly, treatment may take longer. So, ensuring your child is dedicated to the plan and willing to follow it is important. That said, when Dr. Fleschler explains the alternative (metal braces) to her young Invisalign patients who aren’t wearing their aligners enough, they tend to stick to the plan after that.
Another thing to consider is how responsible your child is with their possessions. Do they tend to misplace or lose things often? If so, keeping up with aligners could be a challenge. But if your child is responsible and mature, regardless of age, they could be a good candidate for Invisalign.
Benefits of Invisalign for Kids
Invisalign offers impressive benefits, especially for active children or teens. These include:
- Nearly invisible: This eliminates the self-consciousness that can come with metal braces.
- No food restrictions: Many kids break braces wires and brackets because they eat restricted foods, like popcorn. This leads to more time at the orthodontist and stress for your child. There are no such restrictions with Invisalign because your child removes their aligners to eat.
- Fast treatment: Your child swaps their aligners out every two weeks. The average treatment lasts 12-14 months. Metal braces take about two years to achieve the same result.
Invisalign offers the same impressive benefits to adults, which explains why so many of our patients are now grown-ups.
Schedule Your Child’s Invisalign Consultation in Houston
Is your child ready for Invisalign? Call us today at 713-660-6500 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Fleschler.
