Your teenager is getting ready to graduate high school and you still don’t know what to get him or her as a gift. Why not give them something that they will be able to enjoy for the rest of their live: A straighter, healthier smile?
If your teen has crooked teeth that makes him or her feel self-conscious about smiling, don’t feel guilty about it any longer. Do something about it. It is never too late to get them proper orthodontic treatment and with Invisalign clear aligners, they won’t have to feel embarrassed about a mouth full of metal.
Here are some reasons why Invisalign is the best graduation gift for your high school grad:
Improves oral health
After high school, your teen will most likely be flying the coup heading to college or starting to work and you probably won’t be able to monitor their health as closely anymore. This is a great time to ensure that your child has a healthy foundation to go out into the world with. Crooked or misaligned teeth can affect their oral hygiene and lead to gum disease and tooth loss. Food can more easily become stuck between crooked teeth and it can be harder to get the toothbrush into those tight spaces in the mouth.
The most common problems Invisalign braces are used to treat include gapped teeth, an overbite which occurs when the upper teeth protrude out over the lower teeth, underbite which is when the lower teeth protrude past the upper teeth and an open bite where the teeth are not aligned properly for a proper bite. Overcrowding of teeth is another issue that can happen. When not corrected, all of these can lead to tooth decay and loss and gum disease as well as jaw problems. What you do now can help ensure that they don’t have dental problems later in life.
Less of a hassle to wear
While orthodontic treatment doesn’t sound like something your teen will be excited about, they will love the promise of a more beautiful smile when it is done, and by choosing Invisalign the process will be less arduous than it is with traditional metal braces.
First of all, most people will not even be able to tell that your teen is wearing braces at all. Unlike metal braces, Invisalign clear braces are almost invisible inside the mouth. People will really need to look inside your teen’s mouth to notice them compared to the blaring glare of metal that comes with more conventional braces. Also with Invisalign your teen won’t have to worry about food getting stuck in the braces.
Second, Invisalign are easy to remove and are more comfortable to wear. Unlike metal braces that are permanently adhered to the teeth until the orthodontist removes them, Invisalign aligners are removable and your teen can easily remove them on their own for short periods of time for eating and drinking and brushing and flossing. This will ensure that your teen can properly clean their teeth and will reduce the risk of plaque buildup and cavities during treatment. They do however have to wear the aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours for best results. If they keep forgetting to put them in, they will have to wear them longer.
These clear aligners are also more comfortable to wear than traditional braces which have metal and wires that can irritate the mouth. The clear plastic used in Invisalign has a smooth finish so there are no sharp edges and the pressure they apply to the teeth is gentler than traditional braces. Sometimes the pressure from metal braces can damage teeth. Another plus with Invisalign is that there are no restrictions to what your teen can eat and drink during treatment.
Quicker results
Despite being a gentler process, Invisalign actually produces quicker results. Typically your teen will only have to wear Invisalign for a year or a year and a half while metal braces are usually worn for 3 years or more.
More self-confidence
Probably one of the best reasons to give Invisalign as a high school graduation gift is that it gives your son or daughter the gift of self-confidence. With a healthier, straighter smile, they will feel more confident as they start a new chapter of their life. Whether they are going off to college or starting their career, a positive sense of self will push them to challenge themselves and to go after their dreams. No more skipping out of photographs and only offering tight-lipped smiles. Not everyone is born with a beautiful smile, but everyone does deserve to feel beautiful and confident. What could be a better gift than that?
So how does Invisalign work?
Invisalign sounds great, right? But you are probably asking yourself how does it really work?
At a consultation, the orthodontist will use a special software to map out a plan for treatment, leaving little room for error. The orthodontist will perform a complete evaluation to make sure that Invisalign is the right treatment for your teen. At the beginning of treatment, your teen will be given a new set of aligners to wear every 2 weeks. Each new set will move your teen further along in treatment and they will be able to see the progress happening step by step. They will also have a checkup with the orthodontist about every 6 weeks.
Taking care of Invisalign clear braces is also very easy. All your teen will have to do is brush their aligners and rinse them with warm water to clean them. Invisalign cleaning kits are also available. Talk to the orthodontist about it.
Another thing to consider is finding the right orthodontist. Not all orthodontists are experienced in Invisalign treatment so do your research and make sure you find one that has proven success with Invisalign. Don’t be afraid to ask for before and after photos so you can actually see what their work looks like.
There is no reason why you can’t give your child a gift that will keep on giving. Schedule a consultation with an orthodontist to learn more about Invisalign in Philadelphia.
