Disclosure: A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity to attend an Invisalign Teen Straight Talk event in Boston. This conversation today has been sponsored by Invisalign and I have been compensated for it. However, all opinions are my own.  

When I was in sixth grade, my dentist recommended we see an orthodontist.  On the day of the appointment, the orthodontist took one look at my tiny mouth and actually deemed it too small for braces. He was sure he wasn’t going to be able to maneuver in my mouth to work with the spacers and brackets.

My mother didn’t believe him, so she took me for a second opinion. That orthodontist said the same thing- that my mouth was too small. But he also said the crowding in my mouth wasn’t severe enough to do damage. He recommended I wait and get adult braces.

The second opinion orthodontist was right. My teeth are fairly straight. Straight enough that I enjoy smiling in photographs and feel confident when I speak.

NJ New Bio Pic

But deep down, I know my smile isn’t as perfect as it could be.

If Invisalign Teen was around when I was growing up, it would have been a really great alternative for my preteen braces needing self.

Invisalign and Invisalign Teen are clear aligners that straighten teeth without having to have a mouth full of metal. They are similar in shape to a retainer. They are virtually invisible and because they are removable, there is no “forbidden” foods list.

Photo courtesy of Invisalign.

I spent my drive home from the Invisalign Teen event in Boston thinking about how brilliant Invisalign is and getting really excited about how it might be able to help my smile.

  • The clear aligners mean I won’t look back on photos with my kids and cringe at a mouth of of metal.
  • As a busy mom, I don’t have a lot of spare time. I won’t have to worry about finding childcare so I can go to an emergency orthodontist appointment if a wire or bracket breaks.
  • With Invisalign there are less over all appointments because several of the aligner sets are provided in advance.

I was pumped to tell Mike about everything I learned. I suggested to him that we should think about investing in Invisalign for my crowded (but still cute) smile.  He stopped me dead in my tracks with a single statement.

 As long as you are home with the kids, we can’t afford Invisalign. And also? You’re no longer a teenager. 

I was really excited to tell him he was wrong. Does anyone else take satisfaction in telling that to their husband too? And also? Whoa, harsh comment about not being a teenager.

Invisalign  offers treatment options for both teenagers and those of us who are well, still teenagers in our hearts.

Invisalign treatment is covered by most dental insurance policies just like traditional braces (about 50%). We can use our pre tax health care savings account towards the cost. Also, many doctors also offer special flexible financing with terms as low as $99.00 a month.

Not all orthodontists specialize in Invisalign or Invisalign Teen. If you want to find an experienced Invisalign provider in your area, you can go to the Invisalign homepage and select find a doctor. There are two providers within a five mile radius from my house! You find your own Invisalign orthodontist. Or if you’d rather, I’ll take you with me on my visit!

If you are wondering if Invisalign or Invisalign Teen is right for you, you can visit the Invisalign website for more information.

Did you or does your teen have braces? How do you think Invisalign and Invisalign Teen compares?

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