Invisalign for Kids: Yay or Nay?

As a parent, you may have faced resistance from your children about getting braces. They fear being made fun of and called names like “metalhead” and that’s completely understandable.

Invisalign treatment consists of a series of clear plastic trays developed and customized for your children’s teeth using 3D technology. With Invisalign, your child won’t have to worry about being called silly names as they’re not noticeable until someone takes a closer look.

There are still some concerns which may come to your mind if you’re a parent.

In this blog, we’re going to talk about whether it’s a good idea to opt for the Invisalign treatment for your children or not.

The Pros

With the food and beverage industry spending more than $2 billion per year targeting children with their marketing efforts, it’s no surprise that your children tend to consume junk food and sugary drinks.

Besides taking an enormous toll on their health, munching on popcorn, bubble gums and chips can be problematic if your child wears metallic braces. Food tends to get stuck in between braces and can be quite difficult to remove. The metallic wires are also prone to breaking when biting down on something hard.

With Invisalign, your child can easily remove the plastic tray and eat whatever they want.

Invisalign trays are also more comfortable for children as traditional braces can cause sores in their soft gums.

The Cons

Dentists hesitate in recommending Invisalign for kids because they’re more likely to lose or damage the aligners when they take it off. This makes the treatment plan more lengthy and costly.

You can’t supervise your child 24/7. When they’re at school or out playing, they can easily remove the aligners. This can cause a delay in their teeth correction procedure.

While dental insurance plans usually cover the costs of cosmetic treatments they have an annual limit that can’t be surpassed. Invisalign treatment is much more costly than traditional braces, with the costs sometimes shooting up to $5000!

Metallic braces are also better-suited in dealing with complex structural deformities than Invisalign.

What it all comes down to is your child’s temperament, your dental insurance plan and the costs you’re willing to bear.  The AAPD recommends that you take your child to the dentist when their first tooth appears—that’s well before their first birthday.

The highly skilled and experienced dentists at Dr. King’s Family Dentistry are specialized in early orthodontics and can recommend the best treatment plan suited to your child’s unique needs. If you’re located in Virginia Beach and want to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists, give us a call at (757) 453-5498.

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