Adolescence is the period where growth spurts start to happen to our children. When it comes to teeth, your child’s primary teeth should be replaced by permanent ones by the time they reach the age of 12 or 13. 

From this point onwards, one thing becomes common among a majority of teens within their age brackets. They start wearing braces. Traditional or metal braces are usually used by teens in order to achieve straighter teeth. As much as this dental appliance is popularly used, not a lot of people are a fan of them. 

It is no doubt that teens nowadays are concerned of their outward appearance. One major reason that traditional or metal braces are not well-liked is because of the fact that they do not look good when worn, especially when taking photos. A lot of teens complain that they look like “metal mouths,” which is literally correct because traditional braces are made of such medical grade materials.

This article is written for parents who have teens that wish to get their teeth perfectly aligned, but are not thrilled at the thought of their teeth being clamped with metal wires and brackets. Mom and dads, the answer to your teen’s concern is clear aligners. 

In this article, we discuss and answer the common questions parents have about using or getting Invisalign in Singapore. Our dental experts in Dental Designs shares informative details about Invisalign in this post.

Common questions parents ask about Invisalign

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a brand of clear aligners manufactured by Align Technology. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign uses clear aligners instead of metal wires and brackets to straighten the teeth.

What material does Invisalign use for the clear aligners?

Invisalign uses their patented thermoplastic material called SmartTrack®. This flexible plastic is created for Invisalign’s exclusive use and is free from BPA, BPS, latex, or gluten, making them perfectly safe to use. The patented material is also approved by the FDA.

What are the steps involved in getting Invisalign clear aligners?

The first thing parents need to do is to scout for an Invisalign-trained doctor to get their teen assessed. Once your child is considered as a qualified candidate for Invisalign treatment, expect the doctor to:

  • Ask your child to undergo a dental x-ray
  • Take photos of your child’s teeth
  • Make impressions or a scan of your child’s teeth

The details taken are important in order to come up with a ClinCheck treatment plan. The ClinCheck treatment plan is simply a 3D treatment plan that will be used to design your child’s customised sets of Invisalign aligners. At the same time, the ClinCheck treatment plan will enable you to know the following information about your child’s Invisalign treatment:

  • A simulation of your teeth’s progress with the use of Invisalign clear aligners
  • The final outcome of your child’s teeth after successfully completing the whole treatment
  • The number of aligners your child’s treatment plan will need
  • The period of time your child will be wearing Invisalign clear aligners

Following this, the 3D treatment plan is sent to Invisalign’s manufacturer overseas for fabrication. A series of clear aligners, consisting of 3 to 4 sets at a given time, will then be released to your child as soon as the clear aligners are shipped to your doctor’s clinic. Each set of clear aligners will be used every 2 weeks until the last set is used and your child’s teeth alignment is done successfully. On a daily basis, your child should use the clear aligners for at least 22 hours.

What are the food restrictions that should be imposed on my teen during the duration of Invisalign treatment?

There are no food restrictions when using Invisalign clear aligners. Your child can still enjoy eating and drinking their favorite food and beverages for the entirety of their treatment. However, it is important that they remember to take off their clear aligners whenever they are eating or drinking. This is to ensure that the clear aligners will not be damaged, especially when eating or drinking hot meals or beverages. There is no need to remove the clear aligners when drinking cool water and this is the only exception.

Will the speech of my teen be affected while using the clear aligners?

Temporarily, yes. Your child’s tongue will need to get used to wearing the clear aligners at the start of the treatment; hence, the way your child speaks or articulates words can be affected. This can happen for the first two days when your child starts using the clear aligners. Your doctor can give your child tips on how to adjust quickly with the use of Invisalign.

Is there pain involved during my child’s Invisalign treatment?

The pain involved in Invisalign treatment is not as extreme as other patients encounter when using traditional braces. However, they are not completely absent as well. Your child can still feel minor discomfort or pressure as the clear aligners do their job of moving the teeth into perfect alignment. This can be felt at the beginning of your child’s use of each set of clear aligners and gradually disappears in the succeeding days.

What happens when my teen misplaces a set of clear aligners?

Losing a tray or set of clear aligners is not a new problem. Inform your doctor when your teen loses a set of clear aligners so they can give you proper advice on what to do. Do not keep this as a secret or allow your teen to jump onto using the succeeding Invisalign tray as this can cause problems to the progress of their treatment. In many cases, the lost set of clear aligners will need replacement. This will be an added cost to your budget. 

How long will it take for Invisalign treatment to complete?

The length of Invisalign use for teenagers varies. Your doctor can give a more accurate prediction on how long your child will need to use the clear aligners after doing the ClinCheck treatment plan. 

 

Dental Designs
120 Telok Ayer St,
Singapore 068589
+65 6221 8284