Invisalign can be an effective treatment for developing teen smiles. Our Straight Smile dentists explain how the eruption tabs on Invisalign for teens can help keep them on track easier.
What Is Invisalign Teen?
Just like standard Invisalign, Invisalign Teen involves a series of clear, BPA-free plastic, removable aligners.
The process involved in creating your Invisalign clear aligners starts with the iTero scanner which quickly and comfortably scans your teen's teeth and gums. This scan will be transformed into a 3D model of your teen's mouth and your dentist can use this to come up with a detailed treatment plan.
This scan can also provide a picture of what your teens smile might be able to look like once treatment has been completed. THe primary reason fro this scan, however, is to create a custom series of clear aligners.
Your teen will wear their aligners for about 20 to 22 hours every day and change to a new set every one to two weeks, depending on their treatment plan. As they go through the series of Invisalign Teen aligners, their teeth will shift little by little into their new positions.
Benefits of Invisalign Teen
Similar to traditional metal braces, clear aligners apply continual pressure to the teeth to shift them into alignment. The user wears each set of aligners for a couple of weeks before moving on to a new set. The end result, hopefully, is an even smile.
Consider some of the other benefits of selecting Invisalign for your teen.
- They Are Removable
- Generally Reported To Cause Less Irritation
- May Help Boost Teens Self Confidence
- They Offer Fewer Emergencies Since They Don't Have Wires
Features of Invisalign Teen
- Eruption Tabs - Allow for molar growth.
- Compliance Indicators - So you know they are being used.
- Replacement Trays - For Forgetful or clumsy teens.
What Are Eruption Tabs?
Invisalign for teens features eruption tabs which allow space for the second set of molars to grow in without getting in the way of your aligners. Another great benefit to eruption tabs is that they also help align the molars as they grow. This prevents the molars from becoming crooked or growing too far into the opposite molar’s space.
Why Would Eruption Tabs Be Important?
Your child or teen's mouth is still developing so it is important to allow for growth and change because if their orthodontic treatment does not allow for it, there will be complications to their treatment which could prolong the process or require more extensive orthodontic work in the future.
For a more seamless experience, your dentist may find that Invisalign Teen is the right choice for your child's developing smile.