Silly Rabbit, Invisalign is for Kids!
Orthodontic Technology Advancements Apply to Children
By Amy Morgan
D
o you remember the tagline for the fruity breakfast cereal – “Silly Rabbit, Trix are for Kids!” That same slogan could apply to the Invisalign tooth-straightening system and children. While Invisalign was initially considered an adult application to correct crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, it’s a myth that Invisalign is only for adults. “Quite the opposite!” advised Michael Roberts, D.D.S., who brings 33 years of experience to 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics. “Invisalign is the preferred tool over old-school bonded braces. Every patient
of mine is a candidate for Invisalign unless
proven otherwise.”
Bonded braces were invented in the early 1900s and utilize limited technology to guide the teeth to where the orthodontist hopes they’ll land. Although Invisalign and brackets work with the same biomechanisms, they hold the teeth differently. Invisalign wraps around the teeth like a glove, he added.
With Invisalign, Dr. Roberts creates the final result digitally and reverse engineers back to the beginning. He makes a computer record of the teeth using a technically advanced iTero 5-D intraoral scanner, which takes a three-dimensional image of the mouth in detail to the 1/1000th of an inch.
Even more amazing, images upload to an onscreen simulation, so a patient can visualize exactly what their mouth structure looks like side by side with the suggested treatment plan. Dr. Roberts can even add a patient’s photo to the simulation to show a patient how their smile would look with straight teeth.
“It makes quite the impact!” Dr. Roberts said. “The iTero digital scanner is the single greatest advancement in my career. It has changed the landscape of dentistry and orthodontics completely.” Once the image is approved, Dr. Roberts will create a course of 20-25 custom fitted Invisalign trays to complete the treatment. Patients wear each aligner 24/7 for two weeks, removing only to eat, drink
or clean.
“I can do things with Invisalign I could only imagine with conventional braces. Invisalign is the most accurate tool we have for moving teeth,” Dr.
Roberts said.
Another benefit for kids and teens, most coaches will accept the liners as mouthguards. Wearing braces while playing contact sports is dangerous, Dr. Roberts added. The first time you pick somebody’s lips out of their braces after they’ve been hit in the face with a basketball is not fun. This is no longer an issue with Invisalign. “I have people who do MMA and boxing with Invisalign,” he said.
Parents voice concerns about their kids not wearing them responsibly, but Dr. Roberts hasn’t found that to be a significant problem. “I have fewer compliance issues with kids than adults. It’s much more sophisticated, more accurate, more comfortable, and makes teeth easier to clean,” Dr. Roberts said.
Most Invisalign treatment takes only 12-18 months – half to two-thirds the time of conventional braces. It requires fewer office visits and less time to achieve the desired results – meaning less time away from school and work. Because 7to7 Dental is open 7 a.m. -7 p.m., services are provided when it’s most convenient for the patient and parents. Dr. Roberts has found Invisalign to be “very comparable in cost (to braces) depending on the complexity for the most part,” he said.
7to7 Dental has developed many ways to work with families to make orthodontia affordable, with new, in-house financing options coming soon. Dr. Roberts has taken extended Invisalign training and an advanced Fellowship Course, so you can be confident your child will receive a great Invisalign experience.
