What's the Best Age to Start Invisalign®

Invisalign® orthodontic treatments involve wearing customized, transparent trays on your teeth for at least 20 hours every day. As your teeth shift, you’ll switch to a new set of aligners. 

You can remove the aligners while you eat or brush your teeth, which makes them convenient. Also, the transparent aligners are barely noticeable. 

If you or your loved one has misaligned teeth, you may be wondering, can Invisalign work at any age? And if not, at what age does it work best? 

To help you out, we asked Dr. Sabrina E. Mickel, our expert, to share what she knows about the best time to wear transparent aligners.

Invisalign for kids aged six to 10

When the jaw and the skull are still developing, braces work faster and are more effective. Invisalign requires discipline, as they can be removed, and children in this age range may need to be more compliant with wearing them at least 20 hours per day. 

When picking braces for kids, parents should also take into consideration their child’s conscientiousness and ability to follow instructions. 

Invisalign for teenagers

Teenagers are often insecure about their looks, and a set of metal braces often don’t help with that issue. 

As a teenager, your child is probably old enough to be able to follow instructions and have a successful outcome. However, it’s important to remind your teen that unless they wear their aligners throughout the day — with the exception of the times they eat, drink, and brush their teeth — their treatment time could be prolonged. 

On average, the treatment lasts for about a year. 

Invisalign for adults 

When you’re past a certain age and have a job, it may be difficult to show up to work one day sporting a metallic smile. 

Although Invisalign aligners are made of plastic, they’re sturdy enough to move teeth, even in adults. The only downside of adults wearing braces is that they may not be good candidates if they suffer from poor bone density. Loss of bone density is often a consequence of gum disease. 

Find out if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign 

Perhaps the most important factor that impacts how well Invisalign will work for you isn’t your age, as the trays can straighten your teeth at any age, but whether your misalignment can be fixed with Invisalign. Ideal candidates have mild to moderate misalignments. 

To find out whether you’re a good candidate, contact us to schedule an appointment. Dr. Mickel will examine your bite and let you know what your best course of action is.