Am I Too Old for Invisalign?
I was at the zoo and saw these teenagers. It was lunchtime and they were at the picnic table near a bench I was sitting to read. One of them took out her “braces” from her teeth to eat. I was astounded. I couldn't even tell she was wearing them. I asked her about them and she was very polite. She said they're called Invisalign Teen and that is what people are wearing instead of regular braces now. I have to tell you that I have always been embarrassed by my teeth. I have the money to fix them but thought wearing braces would look even worse. I like the idea of these Invisalign braces. Am I too old for them? I'm not a teenager. In fact, I'm 64.
Sylvia
Dear Sylvia,
I'm glad you asked the young person about their appliance. I can assure you that you are not too old for Invisalign. Though what the person you spoke to was wearing Invisalign Teen, this procedure was originally developed for adults. It was later also adapted to teenagers.
It is a great way to straighten your teeth. If you're still worried about your age, I can tell you about an Invisalign study group I know. They were keeping track of their patients using the procedure, including the ages. One of the dentists had a patient who was in their upper 80s. You are but a young pup in comparison.
There are many benefits for using this procedure over traditional braces that you can read about on our Invisalign page. However, there is a hidden benefit I'd like to mention to you. As we get older our teeth pick up a lot of stains. The Invisalign aligners can also double as teeth whitening trays. This will let you whiten your teeth at the same time that you are straightening them. By the time you are done with your treatment you'll have not just a straight smile but a youthful looking one.
This blog is brought to you by Naples, FL Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Long.
