If you have a child who needs orthodontics or you’re well past your teen years, you might wonder if there is a minimum or maximum age range for braces or Invisalign. In most cases, if your child is old enough for braces, they are old enough for Invisalign. Invisalign treatment can be used in children and people well into their senior years. There is no age limit on receiving orthodontic treatment. Find out if Invisalign treatment at KC Smile in Overland Park is the right orthodontics option for you since there is no best age for Invisalign.
Ages 7-9: Early Intervention
Although this is a bit young, children aged as young as 7 through 9 can be candidates for orthodontic treatment. This is the age range we call early intervention. Early intervention means that we just noticed some problems with teeth growing in and know how to correct the problems before they spread or grow worse. When we have an early diagnosis of orthodontic issues, it can help us draw a roadmap of the rest of the teeth growing in. We will have a good idea of what the alignment will look like when it grows in.
During this age, we will not give your child Invisalign treatment. Firstly because your child is not mature enough to remove the aligners and care for them properly. Secondly, not enough permanent teeth have erupted for orthodontic treatment to be ideal for the time. Only in very few cases do dentists give braces to children in this age range. Reasons for early orthodontic treatment include children who have protruding teeth, a child who has difficulty talking or eating because of their poor alignment, or children with a crossbite or crowding teeth. We would recommend partial braces for cases like this so that the problems do not get worse with age.
Ideal Treatment Time: Ages 10-14
At ages 10 through 14 is when most children receive their braces. This is because most if not all baby teeth have been lost and the jaw is now stable and strong enough to withstand an orthodontic treatment. Between these ages is when we are okay with your child choosing Invisalign treatment to correct their smile as long as they are good candidates. This means they have an orthodontic problem that is mild to moderate and can be treated with Invisalign aligners. To be a candidate you also need to be responsible enough to wear the aligners as instructed, otherwise, your results will be compromised. The average time braces take to complete the treatment is anywhere from 6 months to two years.
Still Okay Treatment Ages: 14+
Although ages 10 to 14 is the ideal time to complete an orthodontic treatment, it’s not the right time for everyone. For example, maybe you can’t afford it, maybe your parents didn’t want to pay for it, or maybe you just didn’t want to deal with braces. Whatever the reason may be for not getting braces during these ages, don’t worry, you can still complete an orthodontic treatment, regardless of how old you are. It’s never too late in your life to reap the benefits of having straight teeth. You don’t have to live with crooked, gapped, crowded teeth for the rest of your life. Our Overland Park dentist is happy to treat all ages with Invisalign treatment if they are the right candidate.
Benefits of Invisalign Treatment for Older Patients
Once you reach your 20’s, it begins to look a bit out of place for adults to have metal braces. Unfortunately, society sees later orthodontic treatments as weird on adults, which forces many adults to not even consider seeking the treatment they might badly need. Luckily, with Invisalign clear aligners, adults can feel confident receiving an orthodontic treatment at any age. The clear aligners are nearly invisible and your colleagues won’t even notice you’re wearing them. This means you can keep your confidence and not have to deal with stares for being an adult with braces.
Whether you’re in your twenties or seventies, any age is a good age to wear Invisalign. A lot of our adult patients had braces in their teens but weren’t diligent with retainer wear so their teeth moved back. We can help straighten your teeth and fix any bite problems you might also have. As a result, your teeth will look perfect following treatment. But beauty isn’t everything. Your straight teeth will help prevent cavities and decay because you will be able to evenly clean them and not miss any hard to reach spots that may have been covered with your crowded teeth. In addition, correcting your bite can help prevent you from grinding your teeth on one side of your jaw, and make resting your teeth together more comfortable. A correct bite will prevent tons of future dental problems from occurring which is an important benefit at any age! Maintain a healthy mouth for life with Invisalign in Overland Park.
Schedule Your Invisalign Appointment Today
Regardless of what age you are, if you think you need an orthodontic treatment, give KC Smile a call to schedule a consultation for Invisalign. Our dentist will find out if you’re a candidate and then come up with an idea treatment plan to perfect your smile! We can be reached via phone or by filling out our online form. Feel free to bring a list of questions to ask our dentist and he will happily answer them for you.
