Can Children Use Aligners to Straighten Their Teeth?

By now you already know how effective orthodontic braces are in moving teeth around and achieving fantastic smiles. Braces are not the only option for manipulating your smile. We have aligners at our fingertips. Aligners are the clear, removable trays that you place in your mouth over a succession of weeks.

But, can kids use aligners?

The short answer is yes. After a child has reached a certain stage in the development of his or her teeth, the child can use aligners such as Invisalign® or Invisalign First for kids ages 6-10.

Things to consider when looking at aligners for a minor.

Is your child ready for braces? If your child is ready to get traditional braces, then aligners are a possibility. Meet with your orthodontist to determine if your child has reached the developmental stage to be eligible for aligners.
Is your child responsible? Aligners are the most effective when worn close to 22 hours per day when you are not eating or brushing or flossing your teeth. Not doing so will affect how long the straightening process takes. Most kids are inquisitive, and may want to remove them. That’s where the possibility of losing or breaking them comes in. (Never put them in a napkin as that bundle will look like trash and someone may throw it away. Even if you rescue them from the waste bin, the fibers of the paper stick to the plastic of the aligners.)

Here’s a list of answers to common questions people have about Invisalign®.

To find out is your child is eligible for clear aligners at Advanced Orthodontic Center, click here.