What is Invisalign First?

Kelly Orthodontics

Replacing the need for bulky metal expanders, headgear, or braces, Invisalign First was developed for children between the ages of 6-10 who experience issues with alignment, crowding, spacing, arch development, and expansion. 

Invisalign First aligners are:

• Designed to treat a broad range of teeth straightening issues in growing children, from simple to complex, including crowding, spacing, and narrow dental arches.

• Removable for easy hygiene, making it easier for growing children to brush and floss.

• Designed for comfort – which means no discomfort from rubbing brackets or poking wires.

• Can help with oral habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting.

Invisalign First is a Phase 1 orthodontic treatment. Phase 1 treatment refers to orthodontic treatment at an age before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Phase I treatment can take advantage of growth potential and turn a difficult orthodontic problem into a more manageable one. Dr. Kelly can often correct major problems such as crossbites or severe skeletal issues, as well as incisor alignment, making Phase II treatment more productive to ensure better overall results.

An initial consultation is needed to determine if your child is an appropriate candidate for Invisalign First. If approved, Dr. Kelly can begin taking pictures, x-rays, and impressions of your child’s smile that same day. Information from the imaging, x-rays, and impressions will go to an Invisalign lab where a custom Invisalign First device, called an aligner, will be made for your child.

Depending on your child’s individual treatment plan, he or she may require a full pair of aligners or just one aligner. The aligners will provide gentle pressure to expand the jawline, with each new aligner moving the jaw and permanent teeth closer to the desired position. With Invisalign First, treatment time normally takes 6-9 months to complete.

Invisalign First is only available for growing children. For adults and teens who are seeking orthodontic corrections, Kelly Orthodontics offers alternative treatment options, such as Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, clear ceramic braces, and traditional metal braces. Visit our website to choose your look.

 

 

Benefits of Early Treatment

Kelly Orthodontics

Together with the American Association of Orthodontists, Dr. Dan Kelly recommends that your child’s first check-up with Kelly Orthodontics be performed no later than age 7. By age 7, your child has enough permanent teeth for Dr. Kelly to evaluate the developing teeth and the jaws to spot potential problems.

There are generally three outcomes from this first check-up:

1. No treatment is expected to be necessary. 
2. Treatment may be needed in the future, so your child will be monitored by Dr. Kelly periodically while the face and jaws continue to grow. 
3. There is a problem that lends itself to early treatment.

While there are many orthodontic problems that Dr. Kelly agrees are best treated after all permanent teeth have come in, early treatment can be in your child’s best interests. The goal of early treatment is to intercept developing problems, eliminate the cause, guide the growth of facial and jaw bones, and provide adequate space for incoming permanent teeth.

Orthodontic Issues that Dr. Kelly May Recommend Treating Early Include:

• Crossbites – Usually the result of a narrow upper jaw or abnormally wide lower jaw. A narrow upper jaw will often force a child to move their lower jaw forward or to the side when closing into a stable bite. When closed into this accommodating position, the lower teeth are located outside the upper teeth.

• Crowding - Crowding of the teeth is one of the most common orthodontic problems. Crowded teeth typically stem from a discrepancy between space in the jaw and the size of the teeth. Crowding can be the cause of, or the result of other problems such as impacted teeth, retained primary teeth, or teeth that do not naturally fall out.

• Spacing - Spaces between teeth is another common problem associated with the need for orthodontic care. Like crowding, spacing may be related to a tooth-to-jaw size disharmony. Tooth size discrepancies, such as smaller teeth or abnormally shaped teeth, can also create abnormal spaces between the teeth.

• Openbite - An anterior open-bite is the lack of vertical overlap of the front teeth and can usually be traced to jaw disharmony or habits such as thumb sucking or the thrusting of the tongue against the front teeth.

Early orthodontic treatment can take many forms. But…regardless of how treatment goals are reached, the bottom line is that some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if they are found and treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in, or until facial growth is complete, may make correction of some problems more difficult.

To give your child the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile, visit Kelly Orthodontics. No referral needed! Dr. Kelly will provide an initial consultation at no cost and with no obligation. He will alert you to potential problems and recommend treatment when it is most appropriate for your child.

For additional information, visit our website. Then, give our St. Charles office a call to schedule your child’s initial consultation.

 

Is Invisalign Right For You?

Kelly Orthodontics

When you think of orthodontics, you probably think of traditional metal braces. But metal braces are only one of the options when it comes to correcting your smile.

The Invisalign System is virtually undetectable and straightens your teeth without wires and brackets. Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth, using custom-made aligners created for you and only you. These aligners are smooth, comfortable, and virtually invisible. Not only are the aligners invisible, but they are also removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment.

Invisalign aligners gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements Dr. Kelly plans out for you. With the Invisalign System, you will achieve a great smile with little disruption in your daily life. You will wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move little by little. You will visit Dr. Kelly about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30.

Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners can be removed instantly and easily. Invisalign makes it easy to eat whatever you want, whenever you want, and you never need to worry about your meals interfering with your orthodontic treatment.

If you want straighter teeth but don’t want the look of traditional metal braces, Invisalign may be the perfect option for you. Contact Kelly Orthodontics in St. Charles, IL to talk to us about Invisalign!

Did you know…

Only an orthodontist, like Dr. Kelly, who has been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Invisalign is designed to correct a variety of orthodontic problems in children, teens, and adults. However, Invisalign is not appropriate for everyone. After an initial examination, Dr. Kelly will determine if the Invisalign System is an effective treatment option for you.