You take your children to their annual doctor appointments. You agree to have vaccinations given to your children recommended by your medical care provider. When your children fall, you clean the wound and put a bandage on the wound.  If your children break a bone, you take them to the doctor to assess the injury. You then start the treatment plan outlined by the physician. Why not do the same thing with your children’s teeth when needed? Some factors may create an environment that can lead to the need for orthodontic treatment. These include genetics, long-term pacifier use and thumb-sucking beyond two years old, poor dental hygiene and poor nutrition in the toddler years or before.

Once you are aware treatment is needed, you will have to determine whether traditional braces or aligners are the right options. There are advantages to both. However, aligners offer a more predictable outcome. They can provide a better appearance while undergoing treatment. They can be removed when needed, and they can make it easier to brush and floss teeth. There are also no limitations needed in the diet when using them. Aligners even offer a more custom-made fit. Regardless of all the benefits, you still have to determine if your child is a good candidate for using aligners.

Maturity Level

Your children should be at the right developmental stage to be good candidates for aligners. They should have lost all their baby teeth and have a mouth full of adult teeth. The maturity level of your children is a significant factor that should be considered when deciding if aligners are right for them. Aligners require much more responsibility than traditional braces. They have to be able to know the stage in their treatment plan.

They also should be responsible enough to take care of them. They have to be worn about 22 hours a day. They have to be removed for meals and brushing their teeth. Any more or less time than prescribed could alter the effects of the aligners. They should be able to remember to use them and remember to take them out when needed.

Teens are generally a great candidate for aligners because there is that added component of needing to be confident in their appearance at this age.  Clear braces are the perfect fit for them. This may make them more responsible with their treatment plan. However, teens still need to be mature enough to be a candidate for aligners.

Oral Hygiene

It may be a good indicator that your children are a candidate for aligners if they have good dental hygiene without you having to remind them. This should include brushing their teeth for two minutes two times a day. They should also be flossing after each brushing. This maintenance helps decrease bacteria development and can help reduce the chance of infection. They should be free of or have limited cavities or other dental diseases. If your children always lose their things, have poor dental hygiene, can’t remember to do their homework or clean their room, aligners may not be the best choice.

Expert Advice

Aligners can be used for multiple orthodontic issues. They can address the most common issue, which is crowded teeth. However, they can also address underbites, overbites, open bites, crossbites, gap teeth, and crooked teeth. Keep in mind, they are best for mild to moderate issues.  Anything more significant will likely require traditional braces. Discuss your children’s orthodontic needs with your orthodontist. Discuss your children’s habits and routines and ask for his or her opinion. Using this information along with what you know about your children can help you make the best decision possible for them.