If you're a teenager with crooked or misaligned teeth, you know how much of a downer it can be. And we get it — it can really have an impact on your self-confidence, especially at a time in your life when you really just want to be yourself!

We've seen Invisalign treatment straighten teeth for literally millions of teens¹, so we know how exciting the prospect of getting Invisalign clear aligners can be. So how can you, Mum and Dad explore Invisalign as a teeth straightening option?

Good question! Let's take a look at the aspects that we find most teens and parents are wondering about when it comes to considering Invisalign for teens.

1. Why crooked teeth can be a problem

Crooked teeth can lead to things like:

As an example, when your teeth are crooked or crowded, it makes it harder to keep them clean, because your brushing and flossing can't reach all of the nooks and crannies of your teeth. When this happens, plaque builds up³, and then that plaque might turn to tartar⁴ (which is harder), which can then in turn lead to gum disease.

When you have straighter teeth though, it's way easier for you to brush and floss your teeth effectively, which helps reduce your risk of plaque buildup⁵ and gingivitis (the beginning of gum disease).

2. Benefits of Invisalign clear aligners for teens

The first step is to make sure you are aware of all the benefits that Invisalign treatment can offer. This can include things like:

Parents might prefer to think of Invisalign treatment as an investment in the future. For example, if you start Invisalign treatment now, a potential increase in self-confidence, self-assurance and more expressiveness might give a boost much sooner in life.

Speak to other teens and parents that have used, or are using, Invisalign clear aligners. With over 16 millions of smiles and counting, it is the clear alternative to metal braces.

3. How does Invisalign treatment work

Parents might still only be familiar with the old-school style of metal braces which may have all sorts of negative connotations attached to them — even they might have some nightmares about the time they used to wear braces!

Invisalign treatment includes a series of clear plastic aligners that are custom-made for your teeth. It all starts with a simple digital scan, Invisalign’s advanced software along with data from millions of patients help plan out your every single tooth movement needed to achieve your dream smile. Think of them as clear braces and teeth aligners. You will even be able to see the simulated outcome of your new smile on a screen before you even begin treatment! It is able to cater for your permanent teeth to erupt if your baby teeth fall out.

Each clear aligner is worn for about a week or two on average, and as you change to the next set of clear aligners, your teeth slowly shift into a straighter position. This means that it's possible to straighten teeth without having metal brackets or wires poking around in your mouth — which can be uncomfortable and even painful at times(2). You will wear each set of aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day to get the smile you want, only removing them to enjoy your food and drinks as always!

At the end of the day, Invisalign treatment is completely different to old-school metal braces, and hopefully, your parents will be interested to see how far teeth-straightening technology has come since they were teens. For more details, read more on our website here about how Invisalign system works!

4. Invisalign treatment won’t affect your lifestyle much

This is a really important point to make, because parents might be worried that Invisalign treatment will mean making lots of lifestyle changes that could impact schooling or social life. But the great thing about Invisalign clear aligners is that they're practically invisible and are removable, so it doesn’t affect how you look or lifestyle!

You can easily take your aligners out to eat, drink, and brush and floss your teeth, so you don't have to worry about any of the hassles that come with metal braces.

Another big benefit of Invisalign clear aligners is that they won't affect being active or playing sports at all. With metal braces, there's always the risk of them getting damaged or causing you pain if you play contact sports, but because Invisalign clear aligners are so flexible and no bulging metal brackets, you don't have to worry about that at all. Keep your Invisalign clear aligners in all day and enjoy your life as usual!

5. The cost of Invisalign treatment and payment options

A common topic that comes up: Invisalign treatment may not be the cheapest treatment out there. When talking about costs, it’s all about what value is ultimately created compared to other teeth straightening options for teens out there. This is something that each parent and teen will determine for themselves.

Your Invisalign doctor may offer a payment plan, which can make the cost of Invisalign treatment more manageable.

Bottom line: don't be afraid to ask questions about the cost of Invisalign treatment and explore all the possible options before making a decision.

You will almost certainly have other questions about how Invisalign treatment works, and rightly so — teeth straightening is a medical procedure after all.

While you may have picked up lots of info in your research, it’s always important to talk to a dentist or orthodontist who can help out with the facts. You can do this by setting up a consultation with one of our Invisalign doctors.

From there, parents can ask questions directly, and get all of the information needed from a professional. Again, Invisalign treatment is a great solution for nearly all types of teeth misalignment, but it is still a medical procedure, so both you and your parents deserve to know the facts in their entirety.

If you want to learn more about Invisalign treatment, you can book a free online appointment with our friendly Smile Concierge team today or visit our Find a Doctor page to consult an Invisalign doctor.