I’m going to share with you exactly why I believe Invisalign is better than braces for kids. Parents ask me every day: ‘Should my child get braces or Invisalign?’ And most of them are shocked when I tell them THIS!
To answer this question, first we have to address a major misconception that parents and dentists have been getting totally wrong for decades!
We’ve all been told to wait until our child loses all their baby teeth before going to the orthodontist… but what if I told you that waiting could actually cause more pain, more appointments, and even permanent damage?
There’s a hidden window—between ages 6 to 9—when your child’s jaw is still soft, moldable, and responsive. And if you miss it? Fixing crooked teeth becomes way harder… and way more painful.
See, most dentists—think you should wait until all adult teeth are in before starting orthodontic care. But the data (and decades of experience) tell us the exact opposite.
OLD WAY VS NEW WAY ANALOGY
Now, once you’ve waited past this crucial window, you can’t even start treatment till the child is 11 or 12. At that point, most are forced to use Braces and the extraction of perfectly normal teeth, because the once moldable jawbone has hardened and all the problems are locked in.
But let’s say you made it in time during that 6 to 9 window. If you choose to correct your child’s teeth the traditional way, 90% of the time you will be getting expanders and braces in a multi-phase process.
Braces and expanders are like using a sledgehammer to fix a clock. They work—but there’s a lot of force, a lot of pain, and a lot of time involved.
We measure the force exerted on your teeth in grams of force or GF. expanders exert 400–600 grams of force! If you’re wondering, yes, that’s a lot and it’s very painful. Braces exert around 50-100 grams of force.
Because we can only correct teeth this way, one dimension at a time, the total treatment takes a whopping 12–24 months!
Braces and Expanders break often so you’ll be at the office more than you’d think. Also, we have to do frequent appointments anyway to make sure everything is progressing correctly. It’s a real time-suck. Worst part – The likelihood of your child getting cavities because of the difficulty in cleaning in between brackets is almost a certainty.
And don’t even get me started on trying to play a trumpet with braces. Sorry, band kids!
INTRODUCING INVISALIGN FIRST
Now here’s the game changer: Invisalign® First—specifically created for kids between 6 and 9 while their jaw is still growing. Invisalign can correct the bite and straighten teeth using only 5–10 grams of force.
- Clear
- Removable
- No food restrictions
- No cranking keys
- Just 6–8 months of treatment
- Less pain. Less hassle. Way fewer appointments
Think of it like going from dial-up internet to fiber optic. Same goal, way better process.
REAL TESTIMONIAL — ELIZABETH
I think one of my patients’ mother Elizabeth, said it best:
Elizabeth
I’ve done this for over 25 years. And I’ll say this plainly—Invisalign® First is the most important innovation in children’s orthodontics I’ve seen in my career.
But timing is everything. After age 10, the jaw hardens. The ‘easy way’ disappears. So, if your child is between 6 and 9, this is your moment.
Want to see and hear more?
For a more interactive experience, check out the live YouTube version of this blog, where we dive deeper into the topic and share expert insights. Click the link below to watch the full video!
Don’t wait! Early Treatment to intercept these problems can mean the difference between a simple pain-free solution and years of complicated, costly and painful treatments later on.
Faith: Seek God when you don’t know what to do. Seek God when you do know what to do. Seek him in the big things, in the small things. If you don’t have a relationship now with him what will you do in Heaven??
