Aligner treatment

Until recently, aligners for correcting the bite and changing the position of individual teeth were offered only to adults. But today they are successfully used to correct various conditions in children too.

Aligners for straightening children's teeth are clear trays created to the child's individual parameters based on a 3D image. They are made from a hypoallergenic material and are completely safe for a child's body. A computer modelling system makes it possible to create trays that fit the surface of the teeth perfectly and shift them in the required direction.

It is known that in a number of cases it is recommended to start correcting the bite as early as possible. Aligners are up to this task — they can correct the position of individual teeth and create the conditions for a correct bite to form. Trays can also preserve the space for a permanent tooth in the event of early loss of a baby tooth. This stops the row of teeth from “shifting” and prevents bite anomalies from developing.

In general, aligners for children correct not only functional but also aesthetic defects. Aligners can be fitted to a child if there are enlarged gaps between the teeth, crowding, or an incorrect position of individual teeth.

The orthodontist decides whether aligners can be used in a particular case. However, the main contraindications are the inability to follow the aligner-wearing schedule and poor oral hygiene. Correcting a child's bite with aligners may also not be possible in the case of serious defects requiring surgical correction of the bite.

To begin treatment with aligners, a three-dimensional model of the child's teeth is needed. It is obtained by scanning the mouth. The data obtained is processed by a special program in which the doctor plans the course of treatment and defines the desired outcome. The system breaks the path to the final result into stages. Sets of trays are made based on these stages. Each tray moves the teeth slightly according to the planned route. This way the teeth gradually shift in the required direction with minimal discomfort for the child.

On average a tray is changed for the next one every 14 days. The larger the correction, the more trays will have to be changed. Steps must not be skipped. To enhance the effect of the aligners, attachments are also used. These are tooth-coloured elements fixed to the teeth to increase how closely the tray fits.

The orthodontic appliances must be worn all day and all night (at least 20 hours a day). In the tray you can do sport, play, talk and drink plain water. It is removed only for eating and for the usual hygiene. They should be kept in a special case so as not to lose them. On the whole, the patient's lifestyle barely changes. Being able to remove the aligner is a big plus. If necessary, treatment can be paused at any moment. However, you do need to keep an eye on the wearing schedule and not forget the orthodontist's check-up visits.

They are needed to assess the progress of treatment and to receive new sets of trays. The orthodontist sets the schedule of visits. When the desired effect is achieved, it is held in place with a retainer (fixed on the inner side of the teeth) or a holding tray (the wearing schedule is set by the doctor).

Important to know:

• You must not chew gum while wearing aligners for correcting a child's bite
• You should not drink hot drinks in the tray or rinse it under hot water (the material doesn't like high temperatures)
• After every meal, before putting the tray back in, you need to rinse your mouth or clean your teeth with dental floss
• It's important to put the aligner in and take it out correctly. Practise doing this together with the orthodontist. The wrong technique can cause a defect, for example a crack in the device.
• The teeth are cleaned in the usual way, and the tray is washed in cool water using a toothbrush, soap or a non-abrasive toothpaste.

As a rule, aligners for straightening are started on children when the baby teeth begin to be replaced by permanent ones (on average this is age 6–9). During this period the permanent teeth sometimes erupt unevenly, while the baby teeth prevent them from taking their proper place. Then aligners help to put the row of teeth in order. If a permanent bite has already formed, trays can correct the most common defects.

When calculating, the cost depends on how pronounced the defect is. The more significant the defect, the more sets of aligners will be needed. At Inwhite Medical Kids, orthodontic correction using the aligner system for children costs on average from 220,000 to 420,000 roubles.

Aligners

• Not visible on the teeth thanks to their transparency and close fit
• Quick adaptation to the trays, no noticeable change in speech, discomfort or irritation of the mucous membrane and tongue
• Don't require changing the diet (important for a growing child's body) or oral hygiene
• Treatment times are known precisely (calculated by a computer program)
• You can pause treatment yourself at any moment if needed
• Aligners for children's teeth allow them to do sport freely without interrupting treatment
• Made from hypoallergenic plastic, durable and safe
• A minimum number of dentist visits is needed (only to receive a new set of trays)

Plates and braces

• Visible on the teeth (the exception being lingual braces, which are placed on the inner side of the row of teeth)
• During the adaptation stage they can cause discomfort and rub the mucous membrane with their metal parts
• Fitted braces require special hygiene and a special diet (sticky and very hard foods are excluded)
• The length of treatment can be adjusted
• With braces, treatment can only be paused by having the system removed by the dentist
• During contact sport it's better to remove plates, and when wearing braces a protective tray is recommended
• Made using metal parts
• Regular doctor visits are required to adjust the orthodontic system

In our clinic we use only safe and effective orthodontic methods. So aligners are used to correct a wide range of defects in children of different ages. The specialists of Inwhite Medical Kids treat young patients and their parents with care and attention. They know all the features of a growing body and children's needs. This makes correcting the bite as comfortable as possible and increases the child's involvement in the treatment process. To get answers to all your questions about correcting children's bites with aligners, have a consultation with the children's orthodontists at Inwhite Medical Kids.