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title: “Invisalign for Teens in Hillsboro | Evergreen Dental Care”
description: “Teen-friendly Invisalign with compliance indicators and replacement aligners. Dr. Ostovar offers clear braces for teens in Hillsboro ages 12-18. Treatment 12-24 months. Call (503) 614-0198.”
keywords: “Invisalign teens Hillsboro, teen braces Beaverton, clear aligners teens Aloha, invisible braces teenagers, teen orthodontics Hillsboro”

---

Invisalign for Teens in Hillsboro, Oregon

Teenage years are challenging enough without the added self-consciousness of metal braces. At Evergreen Dental Care in Hillsboro, Dr. Ostovar helps teens throughout Hillsboro, Beaverton, and Aloha achieve straight, beautiful smiles with Invisalign Teen, a specially designed clear aligner system that addresses the unique needs and lifestyle of teenage patients.

Invisalign Teen combines the proven effectiveness of Invisalign clear aligners with features specifically created for adolescent patients, including compliance indicators, replacement aligners for lost or damaged sets, and accommodation for erupting teeth. Your teen can straighten their teeth discreetly while participating in sports, playing musical instruments, taking school photos, and enjoying all the social activities that make these years memorable.

What Is Invisalign Teen?

Invisalign Teen is a specialized version of the Invisalign clear aligner system designed specifically for teenage patients between the ages of 12 and 18. Like adult Invisalign, the treatment uses a series of custom-made, clear plastic aligners that gradually move teeth into their ideal positions. However, Invisalign Teen includes several unique features that address the specific needs and challenges of treating adolescent patients.

The aligners are made from the same virtually invisible SmartTrack material used in adult Invisalign, providing a discreet orthodontic solution that allows teens to feel confident during treatment. Each set of aligners is worn for one to two weeks before progressing to the next set in the series, with each incremental change moving teeth closer to their final, ideal positions.

Special Features of Invisalign Teen

Invisalign Teen includes several features that make it ideally suited for teenage patients and address common concerns parents have about whether their teen will comply with removable aligner therapy.

Compliance Indicators

One of the most innovative features of Invisalign Teen is the built-in compliance indicators. Each aligner has small blue dots that gradually fade to clear as the aligner is worn. These indicators provide a visual way for parents, dentists, and teens themselves to monitor whether the aligners are being worn for the recommended 20-22 hours per day.

If the blue indicators fade completely within the recommended timeframe, compliance is good. If they remain blue, it indicates the aligners are not being worn enough, allowing Dr. Ostovar and parents to address compliance issues before they delay treatment progress.

Replacement Aligners

Teenagers are active, and aligners can occasionally be lost or damaged. Invisalign Teen includes up to six free replacement aligners during the course of treatment. This feature provides peace of mind for parents and ensures that an accidentally discarded or broken aligner does not derail treatment or require expensive replacement purchases.

If a replacement is needed, simply contact our office, and we will order a new aligner from your existing treatment plan. This feature alone can save hundreds of dollars and prevent frustrating treatment delays.

Eruption Tabs

Many teens begin orthodontic treatment while some permanent teeth are still erupting. Invisalign Teen aligners include eruption tabs, which are small spaces built into the aligners to accommodate teeth that have not fully emerged. This allows treatment to begin at the optimal time without waiting for all permanent teeth to erupt fully.

As the teeth continue to erupt during treatment, the aligners accommodate this growth while simultaneously straightening the teeth that are present. This feature makes Invisalign Teen suitable for younger teens who might otherwise need to wait to begin orthodontic treatment.

Why Teens Love Invisalign

Teenagers choose Invisalign for many reasons that align perfectly with their lifestyle, social concerns, and desire for independence. Understanding these benefits helps teens and parents appreciate why Invisalign has become the preferred orthodontic choice for millions of adolescents worldwide.

Virtually Invisible Appearance

The teenage years are socially challenging, and many teens are extremely self-conscious about their appearance. Traditional metal braces can become a source of teasing, embarrassment, or reduced self-esteem. Invisalign aligners are clear and virtually invisible, allowing teens to straighten their teeth without the noticeable appearance of metal braces.

Teens can smile confidently in school photos, feel comfortable at social events, and participate in activities without the self-consciousness that metal braces can create. Friends may never even know they are undergoing orthodontic treatment unless they are told.

No Restrictions on Food and Activities

With traditional braces, many favorite foods are off-limits, including popcorn, gum, sticky candy, hard foods, and crunchy snacks. For teens who already feel restricted by orthodontic treatment, these dietary limitations can be particularly frustrating. Invisalign aligners are removable, allowing teens to eat anything they want.

Simply remove the aligners before meals, enjoy your food, brush your teeth, and replace the aligners. This freedom means no restrictions at birthday parties, movie theaters, sporting events, or any other social situation where food is involved.

Perfect for Active Lifestyles

Teenagers are active, participating in sports, band, choir, theater, and numerous other activities. Traditional braces can interfere with these activities, causing mouth injuries during sports or affecting the ability to play wind instruments. Invisalign aligners can be removed during high-contact sports and do not interfere with musical instruments.

For sports, teens can remove their aligners and wear a custom mouthguard for protection, then replace the aligners after the game or practice. This flexibility ensures orthodontic treatment does not limit participation in the activities teens love.

Easier Oral Hygiene

Teenagers are not always the most diligent about oral hygiene, and traditional braces make cleaning teeth significantly more difficult. The brackets and wires create numerous spaces where food and plaque can accumulate, increasing the risk of cavities, white spots, and gum disease during orthodontic treatment.

Invisalign aligners are completely removable, allowing teens to brush and floss normally without any special tools or techniques. This simplicity promotes better oral hygiene compliance and reduces the risk of dental problems during treatment.

Fewer Emergency Appointments

Traditional braces are prone to emergencies including broken brackets, poking wires, and loose bands that require urgent appointments to repair. These emergencies are inconvenient, uncomfortable, and disruptive to school and family schedules. Invisalign has no brackets or wires to break, virtually eliminating orthodontic emergencies.

The smooth plastic aligners do not poke or irritate the mouth, and if an aligner breaks or is lost, teens can simply move to the next set or go back to the previous set until a replacement arrives. This reliability reduces missed school time and unexpected office visits.

Orthodontic Conditions Invisalign Teen Treats

Invisalign Teen effectively corrects a wide range of orthodontic issues commonly seen in adolescent patients. Dr. Ostovar has successfully treated hundreds of teens with various alignment and bite concerns using Invisalign.

Crowding

Dental crowding is one of the most common orthodontic problems in teens, occurring when there is insufficient space for all the permanent teeth to fit properly in the jaw. This causes teeth to overlap, twist, or shift out of position. Crowding not only affects smile aesthetics but also makes teeth difficult to clean, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Invisalign Teen corrects crowding by gradually creating space and aligning teeth into their proper positions. The treatment can address mild to moderate crowding effectively, and in cases of severe crowding, may be combined with extraction of selected teeth or palatal expansion to create adequate room.

Spacing and Gaps

Gaps between teeth can occur due to tooth size discrepancies, missing teeth, thumb sucking, or tongue thrusting habits. While small gaps may not cause functional problems, they can affect self-confidence and allow food to become trapped, leading to gum irritation.

Invisalign Teen closes gaps by moving teeth together in a controlled manner, creating a more uniform, attractive smile. The treatment addresses gaps throughout the mouth, from noticeable spaces between front teeth to smaller gaps in the back.

Overbite

An overbite occurs when the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth excessively. While some overbite is normal, excessive overbite can cause wear on the lower teeth, jaw discomfort, and aesthetic concerns. Invisalign Teen can reduce overbite by repositioning teeth and making subtle changes to the bite relationship.

Correcting overbite during the teenage years, while growth is still occurring, often produces better results than adult treatment and can prevent jaw joint problems that may develop later in life.

Underbite

An underbite exists when the lower teeth protrude in front of the upper teeth when biting. This misalignment can cause difficulty chewing, affect facial profile, and lead to uneven tooth wear. Invisalign Teen can correct mild to moderate underbites, especially when treatment is performed while teens are still growing and jaw relationships can be modified more easily.

Crossbite

A crossbite occurs when one or more upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth rather than outside them. This misalignment can cause uneven tooth wear, gum recession, and asymmetric jaw growth if not corrected during adolescence. Invisalign Teen effectively repositions affected teeth into proper alignment, preventing long-term complications.

Open Bite

An open bite exists when the upper and lower front teeth do not meet when biting down, leaving a visible gap between them. This condition can make it difficult to bite into foods and may be associated with thumb sucking, pacifier use, or tongue thrusting habits. Invisalign Teen can address many open bite cases, particularly when combined with habit modification.

The Invisalign Teen Treatment Process

Dr. Ostovar follows a comprehensive approach to Invisalign Teen treatment, ensuring optimal results while addressing the unique needs and compliance challenges of teenage patients.

Initial Consultation and Assessment

The treatment journey begins with a thorough consultation where Dr. Ostovar evaluates your teen’s teeth, bite, jaw relationship, and overall oral health. We discuss your teen’s smile goals, address any concerns, and determine if Invisalign Teen is the right solution. We also ensure all permanent teeth that will be involved in treatment have erupted or are erupting predictably.

During this appointment, we take photographs, x-rays, and digital scans that provide the detailed information needed to create a personalized treatment plan. Both teens and parents are involved in the consultation, ensuring everyone understands the treatment process, timeline, and expectations.

Digital Treatment Planning and Visualization

Using advanced 3D scanning technology, we create a precise digital model of your teen’s teeth. This model serves as the foundation for the customized treatment plan, which maps out exactly how each tooth will move throughout the treatment process.

One of the most exciting aspects for teens is seeing the ClinCheck virtual treatment plan, which shows how their teeth will move and what their final smile will look like before treatment even begins. This visualization helps teens get excited about their treatment and understand why wearing their aligners as directed is so important.

Manufacturing and Delivery of Aligners

Once the treatment plan is finalized, Invisalign manufactures the complete series of custom aligners. When the aligners arrive at our office, we schedule an appointment to deliver the first several sets and ensure your teen understands how to use them properly.

Dr. Ostovar demonstrates how to insert and remove the aligners and may place small tooth-colored attachments on certain teeth to help the aligners grip more effectively. These attachments are subtle bumps that bond temporarily to teeth and are removed at the end of treatment.

We provide detailed instructions about wearing and caring for the aligners, review the compliance indicators, and discuss what to do if an aligner is lost or damaged. Your teen leaves with everything needed to begin their smile transformation.

Wearing the Aligners

For optimal results, aligners must be worn 20 to 22 hours per day, being removed only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing and flossing. This consistent wear is essential for teeth to move according to the treatment plan and for completing treatment on schedule.

Teens switch to a new set of aligners every one to two weeks as directed. Each new set may feel snug for a day or two, which is normal and indicates the aligners are working to move teeth. The compliance indicators help teens, parents, and Dr. Ostovar monitor wear time and address any compliance issues promptly.

Progress Check Appointments

Every six to eight weeks, your teen visits our Hillsboro office for a brief progress check where Dr. Ostovar evaluates tooth movement, ensures treatment is proceeding as planned, and provides the next sets of aligners. These appointments typically take only 15-20 minutes and can be scheduled to minimize time away from school.

These regular checkpoints allow us to monitor compliance, address any concerns, and make adjustments if needed to ensure the best possible results.

Completion and Retention

When your teen completes the aligner series and achieves their ideal smile, active treatment is complete. However, wearing retainers is essential to maintain the results. Teeth have a natural tendency to shift back toward their original positions, and retainers prevent this relapse.

Dr. Ostovar provides custom retainers with instructions for wear. Initially, retainers are worn full-time for several months, then transitioned to nighttime-only wear. Long-term retainer wear during sleep maintains the beautiful results achieved through Invisalign treatment.

Treatment Timeline for Teens

Most teens complete Invisalign treatment in 12 to 24 months, depending on the complexity of their orthodontic needs. Minor corrections may require only 8-12 months, while more comprehensive treatment addressing significant crowding, spacing, or bite issues may take 18-24 months or longer.

The treatment timeline also depends heavily on compliance. Teens who consistently wear their aligners 20-22 hours daily progress on schedule or even faster. Those who frequently forget their aligners, remove them for extended periods, or do not wear them as directed will experience delayed results and extended treatment times.

During your consultation, Dr. Ostovar provides a personalized timeline estimate based on your teen’s specific orthodontic situation. The digital treatment plan shows exactly how many aligner sets are needed and the projected completion date.

Cost of Invisalign Teen in Hillsboro

The investment in Invisalign Teen treatment typically ranges from $3,500 to $6,000 at Evergreen Dental Care, depending on the complexity of the case and the length of treatment required. This cost is comparable to traditional braces but includes the significant advantages of discretion, comfort, and convenience that Invisalign provides.

Most dental insurance plans that include orthodontic benefits cover Invisalign Teen at the same level as traditional braces, typically providing $1,000 to $2,500 toward treatment costs. We work directly with your insurance company to maximize benefits and minimize your out-of-pocket expense.

For families paying out of pocket or seeking to spread payments over time, we offer flexible financing through CareCredit and other healthcare lenders. These plans allow you to begin treatment immediately and pay comfortably over 12, 18, or 24 months with affordable monthly payments that fit your family budget.

When considering the investment in Invisalign Teen, remember that straight teeth provide lifelong benefits. They are easier to clean, reducing the risk of cavities and gum disease. They improve confidence during formative social years. They contribute to better oral health and function throughout life. This investment in your teen’s smile is an investment in their future.

Tips for Parents: Supporting Your Teen’s Invisalign Success

Parents play a crucial role in ensuring their teen’s Invisalign treatment is successful. These strategies help maximize compliance and achieve optimal results.

Establish a Routine

Help your teen develop a consistent routine for aligner wear and care. Establish habits like putting aligners in their case during meals, brushing teeth before replacing aligners, and keeping aligners in the same safe place each night. Routine reduces the likelihood of lost or forgotten aligners.

Monitor Compliance Indicators

Check the blue compliance indicators regularly to ensure your teen is wearing aligners as directed. If the indicators are not fading appropriately, have a conversation about the importance of consistent wear and problem-solve any barriers to compliance.

Provide Positive Reinforcement

Celebrate progress milestones and acknowledge your teen’s commitment to treatment. Positive reinforcement is more effective than nagging or criticism in encouraging continued compliance.

Keep Extra Cases Available

Purchase extra aligner cases and keep them in your car, your teen’s backpack, your purse, and other convenient locations. Having cases readily available reduces the temptation to wrap aligners in napkins or leave them unprotected where they can be damaged or lost.

Attend Appointments

Attend progress appointments with your teen when possible. This involvement shows support, allows you to ask questions, and helps you understand how treatment is progressing.

Advanced Technology for Optimal Results

Evergreen Dental Care utilizes state-of-the-art technology to ensure exceptional Invisalign outcomes for teen patients. Our iTero digital scanner captures incredibly detailed 3D images without uncomfortable putty impressions, making the experience more pleasant for teens while providing superior accuracy for treatment planning.

The digital workflow integrates seamlessly with Invisalign’s planning software, allowing Dr. Ostovar to visualize every aspect of treatment and make refinements that ensure optimal results. This technology-driven approach makes Invisalign treatment more predictable, comfortable, and effective than ever before.

Why Choose Evergreen Dental Care for Invisalign Teen

Dr. Ostovar has extensive experience treating teenage patients with Invisalign and understands the unique challenges and opportunities that adolescent orthodontics presents. He combines clinical expertise with a gentle, patient-centered approach that makes teens feel comfortable and respected throughout their treatment.

Our team is skilled at working with teens, explaining treatment in terms they understand, and motivating consistent compliance without being condescending. We create a positive, supportive environment where teens feel empowered to take ownership of their orthodontic treatment.

We also understand the importance of convenience for busy families. We offer flexible scheduling including after-school and early morning appointments, and our efficient progress checks minimize time away from school and activities.

Related Services for Teens and Families

In addition to Invisalign Teen, we offer Invisalign for adults for parents who want to improve their smile alongside their teen. Our comprehensive family dentistry services include teeth whitening for brightening smiles, dental sealants for cavity prevention, and fluoride treatments for strengthening enamel.

We provide complete restorative care including dental fillings for cavities, dental crowns for damaged teeth, and tooth extraction for wisdom teeth or teeth that cannot be saved. For anxious patients, our sedation dentistry options ensure comfortable, stress-free treatment.

If your teen experiences a dental emergency, our emergency dental services and broken tooth emergency care provide same-day appointments to address urgent issues promptly.

Schedule Your Teen’s Invisalign Consultation

Give your teen the gift of a confident, beautiful smile during these important years. Dr. Ostovar and the team at Evergreen Dental Care are ready to transform your teen’s smile with Invisalign Teen clear aligner therapy. We serve families throughout Hillsboro, Beaverton, Aloha, and surrounding communities with exceptional orthodontic care and outstanding results.

Call our Hillsboro office today at (503) 614-0198 to schedule a complimentary Invisalign Teen consultation. Discover how discreet, convenient, and teen-friendly orthodontic treatment can be, and help your teen achieve the smile they deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions About Invisalign for Teens

What is the best age to start Invisalign Teen?

Invisalign Teen is designed for patients ages 12-18, though the optimal age depends on dental development rather than chronological age. Most teens are ready when all permanent teeth except wisdom teeth have erupted, typically around age 12-14. Dr. Ostovar evaluates each teen individually to determine the ideal timing based on tooth eruption, jaw growth, and orthodontic needs.

Will my teen actually wear the aligners as directed?

This is a common parent concern, and it is valid. Teen compliance varies, but several features of Invisalign Teen help address this issue. The built-in compliance indicators provide visual feedback about wear time, allowing you and Dr. Ostovar to monitor usage. Additionally, many teens are highly motivated by the nearly invisible appearance and freedom from dietary restrictions, which encourages consistent wear. Clear communication about the importance of compliance and setting expectations from the start promotes success.

Can my teen play sports with Invisalign?

Yes. For non-contact sports, teens can wear their aligners during activity without issues. For contact sports like football, basketball, hockey, or soccer, aligners should be removed and a protective mouthguard worn instead. After the game or practice, teens brush their teeth and replace their aligners. This flexibility is a significant advantage over traditional braces, which can cause mouth injuries during contact sports.

What happens if my teen loses an aligner?

Invisalign Teen includes up to six free replacement aligners for situations like this. If an aligner is lost, contact our office immediately. Depending on where your teen is in the current aligner’s wear cycle, Dr. Ostovar may recommend moving forward to the next aligner, going back to the previous one temporarily, or ordering a replacement. Having a replacement plan built into the treatment provides peace of mind and prevents costly delays.

How long does Invisalign treatment take for teens?

Most teens complete treatment in 12 to 24 months, though the exact timeline depends on the complexity of their orthodontic issues and their compliance with wearing the aligners. Simple cases may require only 8-12 months, while more complex corrections may take 18-24 months or longer. Teens who consistently wear aligners 20-22 hours daily complete treatment faster than those with poor compliance.

Does Invisalign Teen cost more than regular braces?

Invisalign Teen typically costs about the same as traditional braces, ranging from $3,500 to $6,000 depending on case complexity. Most dental insurance plans that cover orthodontic treatment cover Invisalign Teen at the same level as traditional braces. We offer flexible financing options that make treatment affordable for most families, with monthly payments that fit your budget.

Can you see the attachments on my teen’s teeth?

Attachments are small, tooth-colored bumps bonded to certain teeth to help aligners grip more effectively for specific tooth movements. They are designed to blend with natural tooth color and are subtle, though they may be slightly visible upon close inspection. Most people do not notice them unless looking specifically for them. The attachments are removed completely at the end of treatment, leaving teeth clean and smooth.