Invisible aligners for teenagers: when do they make sense?

For teenagers, aesthetics and appearance play a particularly important role. Wires and metal in the mouth are pretty much out of the question — and yet this is exactly the age at which orthodontic treatment is often something they really want. Many parents don’t even know that they could spare their children fixed braces.

What invisible aligners are

They’re an almost invisible, innovative orthodontic method that uses removable, transparent plastic aligners to correct even severe and complicated tooth and jaw misalignments. The aligners are made individually for your child and are almost impossible to see on the teeth.

Important for setting expectations: they are just as effective as conventional fixed braces. Prim. Dr. Hodecker puts it like this: “Invisible aligners work very well for our teenage patients — usually even better than fixed braces.”

Which misalignments they help with

Invisible aligners are successful in treating crowding and gaps. But they can also bring relief for more complex problems such as overbite, deep bite and even crossbite. Thanks to our experience, we can treat almost any misalignment with invisible aligners — whether the smile only needs a slight improvement or more extensive adjustments are needed.

How long treatment takes

Because every patient is different, treatment times can vary. As a rule, treatment takes between 9 and 18 months. For smaller corrections, it takes 6 months on average and can be completed in less than 3 months if the aligners are changed weekly.

The teeth are moved step by step: every 2 weeks, your child switches to the next aligner on their own. But that doesn’t mean you have to come to us every two weeks — your child always receives aligners for around 8 to 12 weeks. In most cases, check-ups with us are only needed every 6 to 8 weeks. We then check whether the teeth have moved as planned.

The requirement: cooperation

This is where your child’s motivation comes in. Invisible aligners work best when they are worn for at least 20 to 22 hours a day. Sticking to this wearing time takes a fair amount of discipline — but because the aligners are invisible, most teenagers find it easy anyway. The aligners only come out for eating and cleaning teeth.

So that you can keep track, the aligners come with special features: a blue colour indicator dot shows whether they have been worn for the optimal time — so there’s no cheating. Over time, the dot slowly fades. The aligners are also specially designed so that they don’t hinder the eruption of the canines, premolars and molars.

The advantages at a glance

• Transparent and almost invisible — no bullying at school
• Comfortable to wear: no metal or wires in the mouth at all
• No restrictions on particular sports or musical instruments
• Aligners can be taken out for eating and brushing teeth
• Lower risk of tooth decay, plaque and bacteria thanks to better oral hygiene
• The desired result can be viewed as a 3D simulation right at the start of treatment
• Fewer check-ups than with fixed braces — leaving more time for friends, sport and leisure
• If one gets lost, a new aligner can be made quickly
• Takes no longer and doesn’t cost much more than treatment with fixed braces

When brackets are the better choice

To be honest, there are cases in which we recommend fixed braces: if the correction could not be achieved with the aligners because of their limited ability to apply force, if your child wasn’t disciplined and motivated enough to wear them consistently, or if cost considerations speak against treatment with aligners. Even then, you’re in good hands with us: we use self-ligating brackets, which allow gentler, more comfortable treatment, a shorter treatment time and shorter appointments.

Finding the right method together

At our practice, we’ll be happy to advise your child, together with you, on which option is suitable. Straightening teeth shouldn’t hold anyone back and should of course fit in with an active lifestyle. Book a detailed consultation with our experienced orthodontists now — or take a look at the costs and packages first.