Providing Invisalign First Treatment for Children Ages 6 & Up
Morgenstern Orthodontics provides Invisalign treatment to adults and teens and offers treatment with Invisalign First for children ages 6 and up. Invisalign First clear aligners are a version of the highly popular orthodontic treatment, Invisalign, adapted to meet the needs of younger patients who are growing and still have baby teeth. It’s a popular alternative to braces for early treatment.
When Was Invisalign First Invented?
Clear aligners and retainers have been around since the 1970s but had limitations and were used to make small adjustments to the positions of the front teeth. Invisalign was one of the first companies to advance orthodontic treatment and its history begins a little later, with the Stanford University students Zia Chishti and Kelsey Worth. In 1997 they developed Invisalign, an aligner system of discreet and removable clear plastic aligners. The first Invisalign products became available in 1999 after the product was patented and refined. Almost twenty years later, in 2018, Invisalign First came to the market. This innovation is a variety of Invisalign perfected for use with orthodontic patients who are transitioning from their baby teeth to their permanent teeth. Today Invisalign, including Invisalign First, is one of the most popular orthodontic treatment plans for children, teens and adults among families in Chapel Hill.
Invisalign First: Invisible Braces for Children
Morgenstern Orthodontics recommends that every child be seen by an orthodontist at or around the age of 7. This may seem early but this is the perfect time for an evaluation to monitor for current or emerging orthodontic problems. At this age, most children require no treatment and will be routinely monitored as they grow until they’re a teen. But children with certain orthodontic issues will begin Phase 1 treatment when they’re still in ‘mixed dentition’ (when a child has a mixture of baby teeth and permanent teeth).
Instead of braces, Invisalign first offers another treatment alternative for kids and children during this mixed dentition phase. Invisalign First can address a broad range of orthodontic issues that children may face, and correct alignment issues or other problems that can manifest more severely later on. Morgenstern Orthodontics uses the iTero Digital Imaging Scanner to take a 3D digital impression of your child’s mouth which is used to create the perfect series of aligners to correct the alignment of your child’s teeth. Invisalign First aligners are customized to ensure that patients with growing teeth are accommodated even as their baby teeth may be lost. Advantages of Invisalign over braces or other orthodontic treatments include:
Removable aligners
- being able to take out an aligner for snacks and meals means that there are no food restrictions. Unlike braces, all food and drink is okay to have. Just take your aligners out and replace them after.
Hygienic
- Invisalign First aligners do not require any additional difficulty with oral hygiene. Children can brush or floss as they usually do.
Versatile
- Invisalign First aligners can fix a number of issues including straightening teeth, closing spaces, resolving crowding, and broadening the smile.
If Invisalign First is not suitable to correct all orthodontic problems that a kid may have it can sometimes be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities, such as an expander. Compliance, making sure to wear the aligners consistently and as prescribed will ensure your child has a great outcome. You can feel confident about your child using Invisalign First. Find out how Morgenstern Orthodontics can give your child a healthier, more confident smile. The first step is a free consultation.