I’ve been thinking about getting aligners for my teenage son, but I’m wondering if they’re better suited for adults. Does anyone know if teens can handle aligners as well as adults, or are braces still the better option for younger people?
That’s a good question. I actually got aligners as an adult because I didn’t want the hassle of braces, but I’ve seen teens with them too. The main issue is compliance. With aligners, you have to wear them pretty much all the time, and I think that’s harder for teens who might forget or take them out too often.
I got aligners when I was 16, and to be honest, I wasn’t great about wearing them. I kept taking them out for meals or when I was hanging out with friends and sometimes forgot to put them back in. It definitely slowed down my progress. If your son is responsible, aligners could work, but if he’s anything like I was, braces might be easier to keep track of.
I had braces as a teen and aligners as an adult, and from my experience, I wish I’d had aligners when I was younger. They’re just so much less visible and way more comfortable. But yeah, like others said, it’s all about how disciplined your son is. If he can commit to wearing them most of the day, aligners could be a great option.
My daughter is 14 and she’s doing great with aligners. I think it depends on the kid. We’ve made it a routine for her, and she keeps them in almost all the time. Plus, she’s really motivated because she doesn’t want braces like her friends have. If your son is motivated to avoid braces, aligners could be a good fit.
As an adult using aligners now, I can say they require more responsibility than I expected. I can see how that might be a challenge for a teenager. You have to remember to switch trays on time, clean them regularly, and wear them for at least 22 hours a day. It’s not hard, but it’s easy to slack off, especially when you’re younger.
I’m an adult with aligners and I love them, but I can imagine if I’d had them as a teen, I might have struggled. It’s easy to take them out and forget about them when you’re busy with school, sports, or hanging out with friends. Braces, on the other hand, are always there doing their job. It’s less responsibility.
One thing to keep in mind is that aligners are a lot more comfortable than braces, which could be a big deal for a teenager. No worrying about broken brackets or wires poking you. If your son plays sports, aligners might be a safer option too, since braces can cause some serious cuts if you get hit in the mouth.
I work in an orthodontist’s office, and we see a lot of teens with aligners. They do work, but the compliance issue is real. We sometimes recommend braces for teens because they’re a set-and-forget kind of thing. With aligners, there’s more flexibility, but that also means more room for mistakes if they don’t wear them enough.
I think if your son is disciplined, aligners are a great option for both teens and adults. They’re easier to live with day-to-day, and being able to remove them is a huge plus. Just make sure he’s committed to wearing them and keeping up with the treatment, or braces might be a more foolproof choice.