Are Clear Aligners Right for Your Child?

Few people are gifted with perfectly straight teeth, but everyone admires a picture-perfect smile. Millions of Americans wear orthodontic braces to straighten teeth and enhance oral health every year, and millions more have had orthodontic treatment in the past.

Traditional braces were once the only option to get a straighter smile, but these days, clear aligners offer a discreet alternative. As a board-certified orthodontist, Walied Touni, DDS, MSD, specializes in orthodontic care for children and teens.

Our team at Touni Orthodontics in Sunnyvale, California, offers clear aligners with the Dentsply SureSmile® system. Aligners are convenient, with every treatment plan designed for each unique patient — but are aligners right for your child or teen? Find out here.

Are clear aligners a good option for your child?

Dr. Touni uses clear aligners as an alternative to traditional braces for teens and adults. In some cases, he recommends clear aligners for kids to correct pediatric orthodontic problems before they get worse.

The two biggest things to consider when choosing clear aligners are:

Your child’s orthodontic needs

Dr. Touni creates custom clear aligner treatment plans for every patient. Aligners can address a wide range of orthodontic issues, and he evaluates your child’s mouth to determine if aligners can improve their smile.

Aligners can correct orthodontic issues that include:

• Gapped teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Overbite
• Underbite

Dr. Touni maps out your child’s complete treatment plan from start to finish. At the start of treatment, he estimates how long treatment will take and what your child’s smile could look like at the end.

Your child’s personality

Clear aligners deliver predictable results in less time than braces, but they need to be worn constantly to work right. Traditional braces can’t be removed, but since aligners can be taken out at any time, think about your child’s personality when you’re considering clear aligners.

Will your child wear their aligner trays at least 23 hours a day? Will they clean them properly? Can you bring them into the office to get new aligner trays every few weeks?

Are they likely to forget to wear the aligners or misplace them? If your child won’t wear their aligners all the time (except for eating and brushing their teeth), aligners may not be the best choice.

Orthodontic solutions for everyone

Clear aligners are a convenient, flexible way to straighten teeth. Aligners could be a good choice for your child if they have mild to moderate orthodontic issues and you’re confident they’ll wear the aligners regularly.

If your child has a more complex orthodontic case, traditional braces or other orthodontic treatment may be more appropriate. If you’re worried that your child won’t remember to wear their aligners or they’re likely to lose them, traditional braces could be a simpler solution.

Dr. Touni and our team work with children and teens of all ages to give them their best possible smiles, and we’re here to help you make the right decision. No matter which orthodontic treatment you choose, our team guides your child through the process and on to a straighter, healthier smile.

It’s time to learn more about your child’s orthodontic treatment options. Call our office or request an appointment online today.