The Invisalign Alternative For School-Age Children

Invisalign is among the modern orthodontic appliances used to straighten misaligned teeth. Invisalign is often more expensive than other orthodontic appliances used for the same purpose (e.g. braces).

This article provides three reasons why the extra cost is justifiable when school-going children are concerned.

No Wires, No Stigma

Invisalign comes in the form of alignment trays fabricated from clear plastic. Patients are required to wear these trays over their teeth to effect a slow but sure movement of misaligned teeth in the desired direction.

Once installed on the teeth, the plastic alignment trays are often not visible to an untrained eye. This explains why Invisalign will often be touted as being "invisible".

Investing in Invisalign for children means that their treatment for misaligned teeth will be less conspicuous in the eyes of their classmates. Thus, the child will seldom be ridiculed for their condition by classmates and by the larger student body.

Possibilities For The Sports-Oriented Child

For wholesome growth and development, children need to balance between academics and extra-curricular activities while in school.

In this context, the extra cost of Invisalign is justified by the fact that traditional-style braces are less-than-ideal for children who are actively involved in various contact sports. The metal brackets that are characteristic of these braces expose a child to a greater risk of injury in the event of collision with fellow players midway through a game of soccer (for example). Because Invisalign alignment trays are non-metallic, they are a safer alternative for sports-oriented children.

The Level Of Hygiene

Cleaning of traditional-style braces may be easier for school-going children because they're simply required to brush the metallic components of the appliance during their normal brushing routine. Cleaning of an Invisalign tray requires the child to remove the appliance before placing it in a rinsing tray that contains warm water. The alignment tray is then brushed and rinsed before being installed back into the mouth.

The metal brackets and wires featured in traditional-style braces may create "hard-to-reach" areas (the space between the wires and the teeth on which these wires rest). The hard-to-reach areas often trap tiny particles of food, which are not easily dislodged during the child's normal brushing routine.

Because Invisalign alignment trays are cleaned when detached from the mouth, the possibility of food particles remaining trapped in the orthodontic appliance is more or less eliminated.

For more reasons that justify the extra cost of Invisalign and for more information on this orthodontic appliance, make an appointment with a preferred orthodontist.