If you have seen the commercials, you know that clear aligners are everywhere. It seems as if people of all ages are wearing them to straighten their teeth or space them properly. If you have children, you may be wondering about the right age your child should start wearing clear aligners. Here are some guidelines.

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners work much like braces do to straighten and space teeth properly. The aligners are made of clear, heavy plastic. Aligners are less noticeable than braces, and you can remove them to eat, brush, and floss. Rather than moving all of your teeth at the same time, the way braces do, aligners focus on changing one or two teeth at a time. Most people who wear aligners visit their orthodontist every few weeks to have their teeth checked and get a new set of aligners. Aligners are great for teenagers who have crooked teeth or tooth spacing issues. They might also be used to correct a mild malocclusion, such as an overbite.

What Age Is Best For Clear Aligners?

There are a few requirements you need to think about if your child wants to try clear aligners to fix their spacing issues. First, your child needs to have the right amount of maturity to take care of aligners. While there is no set age to begin orthodontic treatment, your child will need to be able to keep track of their aligners when they remove them to eat. If your child loses things easily, they may not be ready for aligners.

Also, your child needs to have most of their permanent teeth before you get an aligner’s consultation. Permanent teeth are larger than baby teeth, and the orthodontist will need to determine the location and placement of their permanent teeth before they try aligners.