Young girl holds Invisalign aligner in one hand and braces in the other

Metal Braces Versus Invisalign at our League City Pediatric Dentist

It’s quite common to learn that your child or teen needs dental braces, and that’s because alignment issues become apparent to our League City pediatric dentist once all baby teeth have fallen out and adult teeth have erupted. And since kids’ and teens’ teeth are easier to move than adults because their jaws are still growing, we will usually recommend League City dental braces treatment begin sooner rather than later. But parents are realizing that their children have more options than they did when they were younger, thanks to advances in the field of orthodontics. But if you’ve found that more options are accompanied by more questions, you’ve come to the right place!

Our League City pediatric dentist is often asked to explain the differences between the braces we offer and which one is the right one for their child. The two most common choices are traditional metal braces and Invisalign, so our League city dentist discusses how these two treatments compare.

What Are Metal Dental Braces and When Are They Needed?

Dental braces are designed to gradually straighten your child’s teeth through a combination of wires and metal brackets, which our League City pediatric dentist tightens periodically. When tightened, pressure is placed on the teeth and they slowly move in response. Our League City kids dentist recommends braces for issues like crowded and crooked teeth, underbite, and overbite. Because of their composition, our League City dentist can correct virtually any severity or form of malocclusion with metal dental braces, making them the most popular choice for treating this issue. Proper metal braces hygiene is of the utmost importance, however, so you'll have to monitor your child's brushng and flossing techniques to ensure food stuck under or between wires and brackets is removed effectively or it could lead to decay.

What is League City Invisalign?

Invisalign is another option offered by our League City kids dentist, which is essentially a series of clear, flexible plastic aligners that are worn over the teeth to gradually straighten them, much like dental braces do. Many parents and teens prefer Invisalign because the aligners are virtually invisible and can be removed when eating, drinking, and for special occasions. They do have limitations, however, as not every young patient is a good candidate for League City Invisalign. Also, since the aligners are removed when eating, younger patients sometimes have trouble remembering to put them back in after eating and brushing, or misplace them altogether. In order for League City Invisalign to be an effective treatment, the aligners must be worn regularly, for 22 hours each day.

Our League City Kids Dentist Can Help You Decide Whether Metal Braces or Invisalign Is Right for your child

When it comes to selecting the right treatment plan for your child’s individual needs, a visit to our League City pediatric dentist will provide the professional insight you need. Our modern, state-of-the-art office help kids feel comfortable and allows parents to know their child is receiving the best care possible. Call us today to schedule an appointment with our League City pediatric dentist and determine whether metal dental braces or Invisalign is the best treatment plan for your child.