Orthodontic Services
Invisalign for Teens
Clear aligners built for the demands of a teenager's schedule and smile.
Invisalign for Teens uses the same clear, removable trays as the adult version, with a few changes for younger mouths. There are no brackets to pop off and no wires to tighten. Most classmates won’t notice them.
What’s different about the teen version
Teens often still have teeth coming in, so teen aligners are designed to make room for teeth that are still erupting. Many sets also have small wear indicators that fade as the tray is worn. That gives your teen, you, and us an easy way to see whether the trays are staying in long enough.
Long enough means 20 to 22 hours a day. The trays come out for meals, for drinks other than water, and for brushing, then go right back in.
Is your teen ready for the trays?
The teeth are only half the question. Aligners suit mild to moderate crowding and spacing, but they only work while they’re in. Say your 15-year-old has some crowding up front and loses a water bottle every other month. Her teeth may be a fine fit for aligners while her habits aren’t there yet, and that’s worth an honest talk before you start.
Plenty of teens are great at it, and some wear their trays better than their parents would. Others do better with braces, which can’t be left in a backpack. Large overbites and other complex bites usually need an orthodontist, and we’ll refer you if that’s what we see.
Lost trays happen. Call us and we’ll tell you whether to move to the next set or replace the missing one. Sports and band are fine, since the trays are smooth and can come out briefly when needed.
Treatment starts with an exam and a digital scan, and we map out each step from there. We check in periodically along the way. When it’s done, a retainer keeps the new smile in place.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my teen a good candidate for Invisalign?
- Many teens with mild to moderate alignment or spacing concerns do well with clear aligners, and it helps if they're ready to keep the trays in consistently. We'll assess your teen's teeth and their readiness before recommending it.
- How is Invisalign for Teens different from the adult version?
- Teen aligners include features suited to growing smiles, such as small wear indicators that fade with use to help track compliance, and accommodations for teeth that are still coming in. The day-to-day experience is otherwise very similar.
- What happens if my teen loses an aligner?
- It happens, and it's usually manageable. Let us know right away so we can advise whether to move to the next set or replace the current one and keep treatment on track.
- Can my teen still play sports and instruments?
- Yes. Because the aligners are smooth and removable, most teens find them comfortable for sports and wind instruments, and they can take them out briefly when needed.