Unfortunately, not everyone naturally develops a perfectly straight smile. The good news is that traditional metal braces are no longer the only option for correcting misalignment issues. Many teens and adults choose Invisalign because of its ability to straighten the teeth discreetly, as their clear aligners are nearly Invisible. If your teen grinds their teeth at night, you may be wondering if Invisalign is still a good option. Here’s what you should know.
Is Invisalign an Option If You Grind Your Teeth?
Invisalign’s clear aligners are made using flexible plastic, so people who grind their teeth often worry about whether they make a good candidate for treatment. The good news is that most people who grind their teeth are still able to get Invisalign. There is a chance that your child’s aligners could wear down faster, but this isn’t as big of a deal as you may think. Patients usually only wear their set of aligners for two weeks before moving onto the next set. The aligners can even act as a barrier for grinding, preventing damage to the teeth.
How Does Invisalign Affect Teeth Grinding?
Invisalign can actually help to improve your child’s grinding. When their teeth aren’t in ideal positions, their bite becomes misaligned. This can create uneven surfaces throughout the mouth. When teeth don’t fit together as they should, they can cause an imbalance to the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint), causing your child to involuntarily grind their teeth. By working toward a more aligned smile, their grinding may become less frequent or even go away completely.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Invisalign?
When deciding whether Invisalign is a good option for your teen, there are multiple factors to keep in mind. Invisalign is able to correct crooked, gapped, crowded, and misaligned teeth in the upper and lower arches. However, some bite problems are too severe to treat, so traditional braces are necessary to make these changes.
Age is also a significant factor because the jaw and teeth are constantly changing and growing from childhood through adolescence. Patients need to wear their aligners for at least 20 hours each day to achieve ideal results. Invisalign is a great option for responsible teens, but younger children may do better with traditional braces because they are fixed to the teeth, making them lower maintenance. Once your teen is committed to the Invisalign process, they are likely a good candidate for treatment.
Teeth grinding shouldn’t get in the way of straightening your child’s smile. During their consultation, you can find out whether or not Invisalign is the best option to meet their needs!
About the Practice
At Waterford Pediatrics & Orthodontics, we have a team of pediatric dentists serving patients in the Dublin, CA area. They offer Invisalign and an orthodontic solution. To learn more about Invisalign or to schedule a consultation for your teen, visit their website or call (925) 803-6880.