By Dr. Sabrina Bhatti, DDS · Kanaka Creek Family Dental
Most parents who sit down with me to talk about straightening their teen's teeth have already made up their mind about one thing: they want it to work, and they want it done once. The question of Invisalign or braces usually comes second, and it often comes from the teen.
I treat teens with Invisalign at our Maple Ridge office, and I see a lot of the same teens for their regular checkups too. That gives me a view of both sides: how teeth move, and how teenage life actually goes. Here's how I'd compare the two options for a 12- to 18-year-old, including when I'd tell you braces are the better choice.
The short answer: for most teens with crowding, spacing or a mild to moderate bite problem, Invisalign works well, if the aligners are worn 20 to 22 hours a day. For severe bite problems, some jaw discrepancies, or a teen who simply won't keep aligners in, fixed braces are usually the more reliable option. In those cases we refer to a specialist orthodontist.
Invisalign and braces for teens, side by side
| Invisalign (Teen) | Fixed braces | |
|---|---|---|
| How it moves teeth | Series of clear, removable aligners, changed on a set schedule | Brackets bonded to teeth, joined by a wire that's adjusted in the office |
| Who's in charge of wear | Your teen: 20–22 hours a day | Nobody. They're on all the time |
| Appearance | Clear, hard to notice | Visible (clear ceramic brackets are less noticeable) |
| Eating | Aligners come out for meals, so no food list | Avoid hard, sticky and chewy foods |
| Brushing and flossing | Normal routine, plus cleaning the aligners | Takes extra time around brackets and wire |
| Sports | Aligners out, mouthguard in for contact sports | Mouthguard over braces; brackets can cut lips on impact |
| Complex bites | Mild to moderate cases | Better control for severe or complex cases |
| Where we fit in | Treated at our office by Dr. Bhatti | Referred to a specialist orthodontist |
The biggest difference: who is responsible
With braces, the appliance does the work whether your teen remembers it or not. With Invisalign, the aligners only move teeth while they're in the mouth. Twenty to twenty-two hours a day means they come out to eat and brush, then go straight back in.
That's the honest trade-off, and it's the first thing I talk through with families. A teen who wants clear aligners badly enough to wear them is usually a great candidate. A teen who's being talked into them may not be.
Two things make this easier than it sounds:
- Invisalign Teen has blue wear indicators that fade as the aligner is worn, so you and your teen can see at a glance whether they're being worn enough.
- We include Dental Monitoring at no extra charge. Your teen takes quick scans of their teeth with their phone, and I review them between visits. If aligners aren't fitting snugly, which often happens when they haven't been worn enough, it shows up early instead of months later.
School, sports and busy schedules
Missing class. Braces need regular in-person adjustments. Invisalign still needs office visits, but because I can review progress remotely through Dental Monitoring, some check-ins happen from home. When your teen does need to come in, we open at 6:30 am on Wednesdays and we're open Saturdays from 7:30 am to 2 pm, so appointments don't have to cut into the school day.
Sports. For hockey, soccer, basketball or anything with contact, a teen with Invisalign takes the aligners out and wears a sports mouthguard. With braces, a mouthguard goes over the brackets, and a hit to the mouth can still cut the inside of the lips. Wind and brass players often find aligners easier to play with as well.
Lost or broken aligners. It happens, especially in backpacks and cafeterias. Invisalign Teen includes replacement aligners so a lost tray doesn't stall treatment.
Still-growing teeth. For younger teens whose adult teeth are still coming in, Invisalign Teen aligners have built-in space (eruption tabs) for those teeth to finish erupting.
Cavities and gum health during treatment
This is the part parents don't always think about, and it's the part I see at cleanings. Brackets and wires trap plaque, and teens who don't clean carefully around them can end up with chalky white marks on their teeth that stay after the braces come off.
Because aligners come out, your teen brushes and flosses normally. The catch is that aligners must go back onto clean teeth, and only water should be sipped while they're in. Sugary drinks or sports drinks held against the teeth under an aligner are a problem. We go over this with every teen at the start.
When braces are the better choice
I'd rather tell a family plainly that their teen needs braces than start aligners that aren't right for the case. Braces, placed by a specialist orthodontist, are usually the better route when there is:
- A severe overbite, underbite or open bite, or a significant jaw size difference
- Teeth that are badly rotated or need large vertical movements
- A case that may need surgery alongside orthodontics
- A teen who has made it clear they won't wear aligners
If any of those apply, I'll explain why and refer you to a specialist orthodontist. Your teen still keeps us for checkups and cleanings throughout.
What about cost?
Invisalign at our office starts at $4,500. The exact fee depends on how complex your teen's case is and how long treatment takes, and you'll get a written estimate at a no-obligation consultation. Many private dental plans include an orthodontic benefit for dependants, and we bill insurance directly. We'll help you check what your plan covers before anything starts. For braces, the specialist orthodontist will give you their own estimate. For more detail, see how much Invisalign costs in Maple Ridge.
How we decide together
Every teen consultation starts with a digital scan instead of putty impressions, using our Primescan scanner. From that scan we can show your teen a simulation of how their teeth are expected to move before you commit. I'll look at the bite, the jaw and how the adult teeth are developing, and I'll tell you honestly whether Invisalign is a good fit or whether I'd refer for braces.
Book a no-obligation Invisalign consultation
Or call us at (778) 401-4001.
Frequently asked questions
Is Invisalign as effective as braces for teens?
For mild to moderate crowding, spacing and many bite problems, yes, provided the aligners are worn 20 to 22 hours a day. For severe or complex bites, braces placed by a specialist orthodontist usually give more control.
What age can a teen start Invisalign?
Invisalign Teen is designed for ages 12 to 18, and some younger children can start earlier with Invisalign First. Every child should have a first orthodontic assessment around age 7, even if treatment isn't needed yet.
What happens if my teen doesn't wear the aligners enough?
Teeth stop tracking with the plan and treatment takes longer. Invisalign Teen's wear indicators and our free Dental Monitoring scans help us catch this early, and we'll talk with your teen if it's happening.
Can my teen play sports with Invisalign?
Yes. Aligners come out for contact sports and a properly fitted mouthguard goes in. They go back in right after the game.
Does my teen need a retainer after Invisalign?
Yes. Every orthodontic result, from aligners or braces, needs a retainer to stay straight. We'll fit one at the end of treatment and explain how long to wear it.