Between school, practices, games, and tournaments, student-athletes are always on the move. When it comes to orthodontics for teens, parents often worry about whether braces will interfere with sports or add extra hassle to an already packed schedule. Luckily, there’s another option: clear aligners for teens.
Whether your child is reppin’ El Dorado Hills Soccer Club, they play lacrosse, they’re on the high school football team, or whatever their sport of choice, aligners can make orthodontic treatment easier, safer, and more convenient.
At Jeffrey Kwong Orthodontics, my team and I offer clear aligner treatment (including Spark Aligners) that gives teens flexibility while still delivering great results.
In this post, I’m sharing 7 reasons why clear aligners are a winning choice for teen athletes.
1. Safe and Comfortable for Sports
Traditional braces consist of brackets and wires that can cause irritation or cuts to the tongue, cheeks, or lips if your teen takes a hit to the face during a game. Braces can also accidentally cause an injury to an opponent. With clear aligners, there is much less hardware and sharp edges, which means less risk of mouth injuries.
Just note that regardless of whether a teen is in orthodontic treatment or not, it’s always recommended they wear a protective mouthguard when playing high-velocity or impact sports.
2. An Added Layer of Protection for Games or Practice
One of the biggest benefits of clear aligners is flexibility. Patients often ask, “Do I need to take out my aligners to play sports?” The answer depends on the activity.
Many teens keep them in during no-contact sports, such as cross country. For contact sports or activities that could result in a blow to the mouth, as long as you can adapt an athletic mouthguard over your aligner, you can keep your aligners on so that we don’t lose progress with your treatment.
Keep in mind that any time your aligners are out, your teeth are trying to move back to their original positions. To prevent that, it’s important to mimic metal braces by keeping them on as much as possible.
3. No Food Restrictions at Team Dinners
After the big game, braces wearers have to say no to things like pizza crust or crunchy and tough snacks like protein bars. With clear aligners for teens, your athlete can simply pop them out at mealtime and enjoy their food. Just remind them to brush their teeth or rinse their mouth before putting the aligners back in.
4. Less Time in the Orthodontist’s Chair
Sports schedules can be demanding, especially when traveling for away games and tournaments. Since aligners don’t require tightening or wire adjustments, office visits are generally quicker and less frequent than with braces. That means fewer disruptions and more time on the field or court.
5. Confidence On and Off the Field
Teen athletes are in the spotlight, whether it’s on the basketball court or at the school pep rally. Clear aligners are virtually invisible, which helps teens feel confident while they work towards their dream smile. For many parents, this confidence boost is just as important as the convenience.
6. Simple to Care For
Because the aligners are removable, your teen will take them out to brush and floss their teeth. Unlike with braces, they won’t have to use any extra tools to clean their teeth (we’re looking at you, floss threaders). They can brush and floss like they always do, which saves time and, for some patients, helps with oral hygiene during treatment.
For all of the details on cleaning Spark™ Aligners and maintaining a healthy smile, check out our blog post, “A Complete Guide to Caring for Spark Aligners.”
7. Effective for Most Cases
In the hands of an experienced orthodontist, clear aligners can serve as a fully customized treatment that can be used to fix a wide range of malocclusions (bad bite), including an overbite, overjet teeth, a crossbite, an underbite, an open bite, spacing, and crowding.
As an orthodontist in El Dorado Hills, CA, who has been using clear aligners for over 15 years, I’m able to treat cases from mild to severe with clear aligners. In fact, the majority of cases that can be addressed with braces can also be addressed with clear aligners at my practice.
What are the Clear Aligner Options for Teens?
Clear aligners like Spark Aligners and Invisalign for teens work in the same way. They fit over each arch of teeth and exert steady pressure. Each set of aligners is pre-programmed to achieve certain tooth movements, so as your teen makes their way through their aligners, their smile takes shape bit by bit.
While I do offer Invisalign for teens upon request, my team and I mainly use Spark Aligners because of their clarity and features. But keep in mind that aligners are just a tool. The important part isn’t the brand; it’s having an experienced orthodontist plan and guide treatment.
Where Do I Find Clear Aligners for Teens Near Me?
Don’t just search “clear aligners for teens near me” and go with the first name that comes up. Choose a certified specialist in orthodontics for your child or teen’s care. We have the training and experience to safely, efficiently, and effectively straighten teeth with clear aligners.
If you’re looking into orthodontics for teens in El Dorado Hills, Jeffrey Kwong Orthodontics is here to help. We’ll go over all of your teen’s orthodontic treatment options and help you decide what’s best for your child’s lifestyle.
Connect With an Orthodontist in El Dorado Hills, CA
If your teen started fall sports and you’ve been thinking about orthodontic treatment, now’s the perfect time to explore clear aligners. Flexible, discreet, and athlete-friendly, aligners keep teens focused on the game while still making progress towards a healthier smile.
Schedule a complimentary consultation at Jeffrey Kwong Orthodontics today to help your teen score a winning smile this season!
