According to Business Wire, removable braces like Invisalign are anticipated to experience rapid growth over the next few years. Invisalign’s popularity can be attributed to its flexibility, aesthetic, and ease of use. Not just for adults, Invisalign offers a host of benefits for teenagers—and peace of mind for their parents.
Especially when it comes to active student athletes, using Invisalign as opposed to braces makes a lot of sense. How can Invisalign help improve students’ oral hygiene and confidence? What are the implications of Invisalign in both high- and low-impact sports? And how can it decrease hassle and cost of repairs for parents?
Straight Teeth are Key to Oral Health & Confidence
When an adolescent has overcrowded or crooked teeth, it’s important to seek orthodontic care. You want to make sure to head off oral health issues quickly before decay or cavities set in.
According to the American Dental Association, there are many reasons why braces are helpful for oral and overall health:
- Crowded teeth make it more difficult to clean in between the teeth, which can lead to more tooth decay and cavities over the long run.
- Orthodontic work like Invisalign can help with malocclusion of the jaw, which occurs when the teeth don’t align properly. If left untreated, this can lead to headaches and bite issues.
In addition to health concerns, crooked teeth can be a source of distress for adolescents. Studies have shown that students with crooked or misaligned teeth are often subjected to bullying about their appearance. And the clear, fuss-free appearance of Invisalign can appeal to students who might feel uncomfortable sporting traditional braces.
High-impact Sports & Specialized Mouthguards
In certain sports, mouthguards are necessary to protect players’ teeth from getting chipped or injured during impact. Although there’s always going to be a danger of this happening, a mouthguard decreases the chance. In most cases, student athletes can simply get over the counter mouthguards with minimal hassle or expense.
With traditional braces, however, it’s often recommended that athletes get specialized mouthguards to protect both their teeth and their braces. Because Invisalign braces don’t contain metal, there’s no need for a specialized mouthguard.
Low-impact Sports, Accidents & Lacerations
Even in low-impact sports that don’t require mouthguards for students, metal braces can create problems. Slips, falls, and trips that involve the face can cause lacerations to the mouth, lips and tongue due to the metallic and sharp nature of braces. Not to mention, damage to the braces themselves in an accident presents a costly issue to parents.
Even low-risk sports carry the constant threat of falls or accidents, and Invisalign can help minimize stress and damage in case of slips, trips, and accidents from the basketball court to the tennis court.
Other Benefits for Student Athletes
Teenagers lead busy lives, from sports to school to homework.
Invisalign eases some of the pressure:
- They can brush and floss like usual without worrying about wires or braces.
- They can easily clean the Invisalign product to promote better hygiene.
- They can easily remove Invisalign to eat or drink soda with friends.
- Invisalign realigns teeth two times faster than traditional braces, so they’ll have a more confident smile, way faster.
- Invisalign only needs to be worn 20 to 22 hours a day. This leaves a brief window for students to remove their Invisalign if necessary.
- A blue compliance indicator lets parents know if kids are reaching the required amount of time per day, for added parental peace of mind.
Invisalign offers a safe, convenient, and hygienic alternative to braces. Most importantly of all, Invisalign offers student athletes the ability to play and participate in the sports they love without braces getting in the way of all their fun. Contact Lamparski Orthodontics today for your complimentary consultation.
