The teen and pre-teen years are the prime time to have teeth aligned and bite problems corrected. Adolescent teeth between the ages of ten and fourteen are most malleable to readjusting with minimal discomfort, according to recent dental studies. This is attributed to the rapid growth spurts that occur in this period that optimize the effectiveness of the orthodontic treatment.
Today there are several popular solutions for aligning teeth. Dr. Terry Vines at Pure Gold Professionals in Dentistry distinguishes himself from many other dentists in the Colton area because he is dually trained to provide traditional metal brace orthodontics and Invisalign Teen clear aligner tray methods.
Combing these two options for teens means that a perfect smile is achievable within a relatively short period of treatment time, and comprehensive care ensures that Dr. Vines can treat even the most severe cases of malocclusion – overbites or under bites − using a combination of metal braces and Invisalign trays. Additionally, if your teeth have spaces or gaps that exceed five millimeters or if there are multiple missing or extracted teeth in the upper or lower jaws, you may need to have comprehensive combined therapies.
While the treatment time varies, most teens are in braces or aligners for one to three years. There is a follow-up period of wearing a retainer to ensure teeth stay their new positions, especially as the patient grows into young adulthood. For appearance-sensitive teens, the ability to wear clear Invisalign aligners for the majority of their treatment process means they can continue to participate in athletic activities and socialize without the hindrance of unsightly metal braces. Invisalign works by gently applying constant pressure on the teeth. The trays are removable and can be adjusted to form around emerging wisdom teeth with the unique design of Invisalign Teen, which is only offered by select Invisalign providers, such as Pure Gold Professionals in Dentistry. The main restrictions with Invisalign is that teens must adhere to removing the trays when eating or drinking any liquids other than water and clean them daily. They also must be worn for the recommended amount of time, a minimum of 22 hours per day.
Depending on the type of correction needed, Invisalign Teen alone may not be adequate to reposition the teeth into place, particularly if the patient is suffering from a severe bite issue. In this case, Dr. Vines may choose to place silver metal arch wires to address the malocclusion. In other cases, the dentist may use metal braces initially then switch over to Invisalign to make the final precise adjustments.