Having straight teeth and a smile you’re proud of is a great way to boost your confidence. For young people, wearing traditional braces used to be the only way to resolve alignment issues. Today, however, clear aligners offer a fantastic alternative for people of all ages.
When children have lost their baby teeth and their adult teeth are beginning to erupt through the gum, it’s the perfect time to begin correcting their alignment. As the teeth are naturally moving during this phase, altering their position is relatively easy. Furthermore, wearing clear aligners when your adult teeth are first showing means you can enjoy straight teeth from a young age.
Most people begin to lose their baby teeth at around the age of 5 or 6. However, it can take quite some time for your kid’s full set of baby teeth to fall out naturally. This means that most young people are ready to begin wearing clear aligners or braces from around the age of 13 or 14. Of course, everyone is different so your child’s suitability for treatment will depend on whether their adult teeth have erupted through the gum, regardless of their age.
Can you wear clear aligners if you have your wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to erupt through the gum and may not be fully visible until you’re 17-25 years old. People typically have four wisdom teeth in total: one on each side of the jaw on the upper and lower gums.
If your child is ready to start using clear aligners but they don’t yet have their wisdom teeth, there’s no need to worry. A quick trip to your dentist will enable you to find out whether your kid’s wisdom teeth are likely to cause any issues further down the line.
By taking a simple x-ray, dentists can see how the wisdom teeth are forming and how their placement may impact the alignment of their teeth. If there isn’t enough space, for example, a wisdom tooth could push other teeth out of line and cause the teeth to look crowded.
If necessary, your child’s wisdom teeth can be removed prior to them starting orthodontic treatment. This eradicates the risk of wisdom teeth affecting the alignment of their teeth. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait until the wisdom teeth have erupted through the gum in order to have them removed. In some cases, dentists are able to remove wisdom teeth from below the gum line in order to prevent potential issues, such as impaction.
If the rest of your child’s adult teeth are present but you’re concerned that their wisdom teeth will have a negative impact on their orthodontic treatment, it’s a good idea to consult your dentist before commencing treatment.
How do clear aligners work?
Unlike traditional braces, clear aligners are removable and practically invisible. Each aligner is custom made to ensure a precise fit and bespoke treatment. Typically, patients wear an aligner for a 10 days period before switching to a new aligner. This allows precise pressure to be applied to the relevant teeth. It’s this gentle pressure that moves the tooth and creates a straight smile and perfect alignment.
When you choose ALIGNERCO for your child’s orthodontic treatment, you’ll receive an impression kit consisting of two trays, practice putty, a cheek retractor, a simple-to-use guide, gloves, and a pre-paid shipping label.
The impression kit provides everything you need to take molds of your child’s mouth. This is a quick and painless process that allows our smile experts to access custom information about your child’s mouth, teeth, and alignment.
Simply ship the molds back to us and we’ll create a customized treatment plan for your child. Using the molds provided and your treatment plan, our experts will create a bespoke Smile Projection. This shows you before and after projections of how your child’s teeth will look. Providing you’re happy with the proposed treatment, your child’s clear aligners will be manufactured according to their specific requirements.
Once you’ve approved your Smile Projection, it takes just 17-21 business days to create your aligners. This means your child can begin treatment almost straight away and enjoy the process of getting straighter teeth.
Are clear aligners cheaper than braces?
Absolutely! Traditional braces generally cost around $4,000-$6,000, although some forms of treatment can be far more expensive. In contrast, ALIGNERCO clear aligners are available for as little as $1145. What’s more – we offer numerous payment plans to help you spread the cost of treatment. With monthly payments starting at just $81, accessing orthodontic treatment needn’t be overly expensive.
As a much more cost-effective method of achieving straight teeth, clear aligners are an ideal alternative to traditional braces.
However, the reduced cost isn’t the only advantage of wearing clear aligners. Traditional braces feature wires and brackets which are generally made out of metal. As the wires can break relatively easily, your child may require repeated visits to an orthodontist in order to have their braces repaired. With clear aligners, however, there are no arduous wires or metalwork involved, which means simple and stress-free straightening.
In addition to this, many teenagers feel self-conscious about wearing traditional braces because of how visible they are. As clear aligners are practically invisible, children and young people are much more comfortable and confident about wearing them.
Do clear aligners offer permanent solutions?
Yes. When your child first begins treatment, it’s advisable for them to wear their aligners for 20-22 hours each day. As treatment progresses, however, they can switch to wearing their aligners for just 8-10 hours each night. By wearing the aligners at night, this prevents the teeth from moving into unwanted positions and ensures they remain perfectly aligned.
Treatment times with ALIGNERCO clear aligners typically range from around 4-6 months, so it won’t be long until your child has a smile they feel proud of. To learn more about clear aligners for kids or to request an impression kit today, contact ALIGNERCO now at 1 (877) 840-1561.
