Teeth Straightening – You’ve Come A Long Way Baby!

I had braces when I was young.  The “fender” head gear and a mouth full of metal.  I’m glad I did it, my smile has been the most complemented thing about me.  But despite that, I’m very happy that when Rosie is ready there are other alternatives available.

Have you heard about Invisalign?  It’s such an exciting option for teeth straightening, especially for teens.  When I had braces, metal brackets were attached to my teeth and then metal wires laced through them and tightened regularly.  Sounds like a form of torture, doesn’t it?  Now there is Invisalign Teen.

Here’s what an Invisalign Teen aligner looks like, Rosie’s holding it:

Cool, isn’t it?  The first thing you notice is it’s clear!  No more “metal-mouth”!  Any time, but especially when you are a teen, you want to feel confident about your smile.  Metal braces can call attention, but Invisalign aligners blend in.

Metal Braces and Invisalign - Yes, look closely, she's wearing an Invisalign aligner!

When I had metal braces, I couldn’t drink carbonated beverages.  Couldn’t bite into an apple.  Couldn’t eat anything that would be “sticky”.  But Invisalign aligners are removable.  Teens can use traditional hygiene and eat whatever they want!  Sports and playing musical instruments won’t involve uncomfortable or difficult issues.  I remember the metal cutting the inside of my mouth – Invisalign won’t do that.

But does it work?  Invisalign was developed with leading orthodontists and is FDA cleared.  There are over a million Invisalign cases in process or completed.  Your doctor will make 3D images of your teeth and custom clear aligners will be made specifically for your teeth.  Every two weeks you switch to a new aligner.  The aligners slowly and gently move your teeth into the desired position.

The next thing I noticed after the clear color is the blue Compliance Indicators.  Teens are on the go and parents can’t always know if their teen is wearing the aligners.  The Compliance Indicators wear away as the saliva reacts to them, so the orthodontist and parent can tell if the aligners are being worn.  How smart is that?!

The other consideration that Invisalign made for teens is that they are… well, how to say this? Teens tend to lose things.  The Invisalign Teen aligners come with a special replacement guarantee for lost aligners.  Yes, they’ve come a long way!

Would you like more information about Invisalign for your teen or yourself?  Start out at http://invisalign.com.  Then use the “Find-A-Doctor” at the site to find someone in your area who specializes in Invisalign.  Even if you’ve been told in the past that you are not a candidate for Invisalign, talk to an Invisalign Preferred Provider.

Connect at:

• Invisalign’s website
• Invisalign on Facebook
• Invisalign on Twitter

Disclosure:  All opinions included in this post are my own, unless otherwise stated. In accordance with FTC guidelines, I am disclosing a material connection because I was compensated for my time and work on this post.