Once they’ve reached their tween years, most kids are good candidates for Invisalign. They’d have all their adult teeth by then and enjoy a smoother treatment than older patients. Still, you may wonder: Does your child’s teeth-grinding habit disqualify them from aligners? It so happens that your Pleasanton pediatric dentist can address this question for you. With that said, read on to learn whether kids can get Invisalign if they grind their teeth.
Crucial Context: What’s Invisalign?
Invisalign is a recent orthodontic treatment that corrects a patient’s crooked teeth. Compared to more “traditional” metal braces, it’s often seen as an easier alternative.
The Invisalign procedure uses a series of clear plastic trays – “aligners” – to straighten out smiles. Placed over one’s teeth, they exert slight pressure to move the grin into the right position. A patient only needs to switch to new trays every few weeks to maintain progress; they’ll then sport an aligned smile after just a year or so.
Of course, Invisalign has its share of rules to follow. All patients must wear the trays for 20-22 hours daily to keep their treatments on schedule. They also can’t eat or drink with aligners in their mouths; doing so would cause damage and delay alignment progress.
Can Kids Get It If They Grind Their Teeth?
It’s certainly not good if your child grinds their teeth; doing so erodes enamel, causes tooth sensitivity, etc. However, the habit shouldn’t keep your tween from getting trays.
Bruxism would merely wear out your little one’s aligners more quickly. That isn’t a great outcome, but it just means your child must switch to new trays faster or get replacements. A good pediatric dentist (or orthodontist) could handle and consider both scenarios during care.
If anything, your child’s teeth grinding is another reason to get Invisalign. Treatment can fix one of the biggest causes of bruxism – a misaligned smile.
The Major Benefits of Invisalign
Besides fixing their bruxism habit, Invisalign could provide your child with the following benefits:
- No “Metal Mouth” – Invisalign trays are nearly invisible, so they don’t draw unwanted attention. That’s especially ideal for self-conscious tweens and teens.
- Convenient Care – The average Invisalign treatment is quite convenient. Since its trays are removable, they won’t interfere with your child’s meals or teeth cleaning.
- Short Treatment Time – Invisalign straightens teeth faster than metal braces, especially for kids. Child patients can expect to finish in only 12-18 months!
In the end, kids can get Invisalign if they grind their teeth. Try to remember that as your youngster pursues orthodontic work.
About the Practice
Main Street Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of Pleasanton is based in Pleasanton, CA. Led by Drs. Margaret Santiago and Amy Brandon, our practice strives to give every child a flourishing smile. We embody that commitment through our preventive dental care and complete orthodontics! Through such a wide range of treatments, our team ensures your kids get thriving teeth and gums. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (925)-425-9292.