For many teens, the biggest part of clear aligner success is remembering to put the trays back in after lunch, during a busy week of practices, rehearsals and exams. At Premiere Orthodontics in Winter Springs, Dr. Jason Battle, a board-certified orthodontist with over 20 years of experience, plans teen aligner treatment with Invisalign® or 3M™ Clarity™ Aligners and builds in the support students need to stay on track.
Why Many Teens Prefer Aligners
Teens care how they look in class photos, on the field and with friends. Clear aligners are made of BPA-free, latex-free plastic and are hard to spot when they are in, so a student can go through high school without a mouth full of brackets. They are also removable, which means pizza, popcorn and everything else on the menu stays allowed, and brushing and flossing stay the same as before treatment. For students still weighing options, the braces for teens page compares metal and ceramic choices, which cost the same as aligners here.
Wear Time Is the Whole Game
Aligners move teeth only while they are worn. Dr. Battle asks teen patients to keep their trays in for at least 20 to 22 hours a day. Teens who leave aligners out for long stretches end up behind their plan, and their treatment takes longer than it needed to. The basics are simple:
- Take aligners out only to eat, drink, brush and floss
- Keep them in the case whenever they are out of the mouth
- Switch to each new set on the schedule Dr. Battle gives you, usually every two weeks
Parents often ask how they can tell whether trays are actually being worn. DentalMonitoring helps here: your teen sends photo and video updates through the app, and Dr. Battle reviews them to confirm the teeth are moving as planned or to call your teen in when something needs attention. That means fewer in-office visits.
Sports, Band and Aligners
Athletes need a mouthguard for every game and practice. With aligners, the routine is simple: remove the trays, rinse them and place them in the case, then wear the mouthguard while playing. Afterward, rinse and clean the mouthguard, clean the aligners, and put them back in. Over-the-counter boil-and-bite guards are not meant for orthodontic patients, so ask us for an orthodontic mouthguard; the mouthguards page explains the differences between types.
How Treatment Works for a Teen
We begin with a TRIOS digital scan, which takes a few minutes and replaces the putty impressions many parents remember. Dr. Battle uses that scan, digital x-rays and photos to plan each step of tooth movement, and the scanner can show your teen a preview of the expected result, which tends to help with motivation. Your teen then receives upper and lower trays and changes sets on schedule. Each set moves the teeth a little closer to the planned position. The scanner, x-rays and app are described on the ortho technology page.
Aligners can treat crowding, crooked teeth, gaps and bite problems including overbite, underbite, open bite and crossbite. Some plans add attachments or rubber bands for specific movements.
When a Tray Is Lost or Cracked
It happens, especially with busy teens. A lost, cracked or broken aligner is one of the situations our team treats as an orthodontic emergency, so call (407) 699-1200 promptly. Tips for that and other problems are collected on the orthodontic emergencies page.
Close to Oviedo High, Milwee Middle and South Seminole Academy
Our Winter Springs office at 5733 Canton Cv sits off SR 417 near the Tuskawilla Rd and Red Bug Lake Rd intersection, an easy stop after school for students at Oviedo High School, Milwee Middle School and South Seminole Academy, and for families in Tuskawilla, Bear Creek Estates and Barrington Estates. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; you can pull up directions to the office before the first visit.
After Treatment: Retainers and the Guarantee
Finishing the last set is not the finish line. Your teen will wear a retainer full-time at first, then at night. If your teen completes full treatment, skips the retainer and the teeth shift back, our Lifetime Guarantee means Dr. Battle will replace their braces, with only a nominal monthly adjustment charge and the cost of a new retainer. Every patient also qualifies for free professional teeth whitening for life once treatment ends.
Paying for Teen Aligners
Every treatment option costs the same, with low or no down payment and zero-interest in-house financing. We accept most insurance, including PPO, HMO and DeltaCare, offer a Medicaid discount, and ask about our student discount. Braces and aligners are eligible FSA and HSA expenses; details are on the financing and insurance page.
Teen Clear Aligner FAQ
Can my teen chew gum with aligners?
Trays should come out for anything other than water. Snacks, drinks and gum all happen with the aligners in the case, followed by brushing before they go back in.
What if my teen forgets to wear them?
Missed hours slow progress. DentalMonitoring updates let Dr. Battle spot a teen who has fallen behind and adjust the plan before the delay grows.
Can we combine aligners with braces?
Yes. Dr. Battle often builds hybrid plans that use aligners before or after braces when that serves the bite best.
To see whether aligners fit your teen’s smile and schedule, request a complimentary New Patient Exam with Dr. Battle.