What is Invisalign Teen?
Invisalign Teen is clear aligner treatment carried out during adolescence, when most of the permanent teeth have erupted. Unlike adult treatment, the aligners can leave space for molars that are still erupting and may have wear indicators that help track whether the aligners are being worn.
Because jaw growth is still continuing in teenagers, some bite problems can be planned to make use of growth. Which problems can be treated more predictably with clear aligners and which with braces or an appliance is assessed at the examination.
Which problems can it be used for?
- Mild to moderate crowding
- Gaps between teeth
- Deep bite and open bite (in suitable cases)
- Crossbite of dental origin
- Forward-tilted (protruding) front teeth
- Mandibular advancement for a retruded lower jaw in suitable cases
Impacted canines, severe skeletal discrepancies or cases requiring rotation of many teeth may need different methods or combinations.
Topics specific to teenagers
Tracking wear
For treatment to work, the aligners need to be worn 20–22 hours a day. Wear indicators on some aligners change colour depending on time spent in the mouth and help both the teenager and the dentist keep track of wear. These indicators give a rough idea; they are not a precise measuring tool.
Erupting teeth
Space can be left in the aligners for teeth that have not yet erupted or are erupting, such as the 12-year molars. This way the natural eruption of the teeth is not blocked.
School, sport and music
- School: Because the aligners are clear, most people don't notice them; if something is eaten at break, the aligners must be taken out.
- Sport: In contact sports a mouthguard may need to be worn instead of the aligners; the aligners go back in after training.
- Wind instruments: Most teenagers can play with aligners after a short adjustment period; if needed, the aligners are taken out during practice and the time is made up in the daily total.
The treatment process
- Examination, X-rays and intraoral 3D scan
- Preparing the digital treatment plan and reviewing it together with the family
- Bonding attachments if needed and fitting the aligners
- Aligner changes and regular check-ups
- Retention (retainer) phase at the end of treatment
Treatment length varies with the case but is usually between 12 and 24 months.
A short checklist for parents
- Are the aligners worn day and night?
- Are the teeth brushed and the aligners put back after meals?
- Are aligner changes made on schedule?
- Is the aligner case in the school bag?
- Have the check-up appointments been booked?