Simultaneous Arch Expansion and Teeth Alignment for Elementary School Children with Invisalign｜Invisalign First

Hello,

Children’s Orthodontics in Apgujeong

This is Apgujeong Yonsei Baro Dental Clinic, introducing Invisalign orthodontic treatment for elementary school children in Apgujeong.

Q. What kind of orthodontic treatment is Invisalign First?

A. It is a clear orthodontic appliance used during childhood growth.

Its purpose is not simply to align the front teeth, but also to predict and prevent malocclusions that may develop in the future.

22.09–24.06

Invisalign First is a clear orthodontic appliance for children.

Its primary purpose is to correct malocclusion that has already developed within the 18-month treatment period (guarantee period) and to predict and prevent malocclusion that may develop in the future.

While 18 months is a tight timeframe for adult orthodontic treatment, children’s teeth move quickly, so this is more than enough time.

Today, I will introduce Invisalign First treatment for an elementary school child.

2022.09

At the time, a 9-year-old elementary school student visited us in September 2022 for orthodontic treatment as a child.

There was no major problem, but the teeth were crooked, and the family felt that orthodontic treatment would eventually be necessary.

2022.09

The X-rays indicated that, after 18 months, all the primary teeth were expected to have fallen out and the permanent dentition to have developed.

With some good fortune, the permanent teeth could be fully treated with a single course of orthodontic treatment.

At that time, the canine indicated by the blue arrow was caught against the root of the front tooth and could not descend. However, if the arch were expanded to make a slight improvement to the tooth axis and adequately resolve the lack of space, it was expected to descend properly.

For these reasons, we recommended Invisalign First for this elementary school child’s orthodontic treatment.

There were no skeletal problems such as a protruding lower jaw, a receding lower jaw, protrusion, or facial asymmetry.

Q. Can clear orthodontic treatment for children also expand the dental arch?

A. Yes, it can.

Invisalign First can use arch expansion during growth to secure space for the permanent teeth to emerge.

When sufficient space is secured, canines or premolars that might otherwise have emerged crookedly may naturally descend into their proper positions.

2022.09

There were six primary teeth remaining, and one of the loose primary teeth also fell out while the appliance was being made.

After deciding to begin treatment, it took one and a half months to receive the Invisalign appliances, and the first set was started in November 2022.

This was the appearance after wearing all of the first set of appliances for approximately nine months.

23.06

The areas where the appliance does not touch the teeth are spaces reserved for the permanent teeth to emerge.

23.06

The front teeth were aligned and the dental arch was expanded successfully. From this point, we waited for the premolars and canines to descend properly.

During this five-month period, the final appliance was worn only while sleeping to prevent the areas already corrected from returning to their original positions.

After waiting five months for the permanent teeth to erupt, it was November 2023.

23.11

The midline was well aligned, and the permanent teeth had found their proper positions and descended beautifully.

23.11

In particular, the canine that had been unable to emerge also descended properly.

23.11

We proceeded to have an additional set of appliances made to close the remaining gaps.

Making the additional appliances also took one month.

The second set of additional appliances was worn for four months, from December 2023 through April 2024. After that, we waited two months for the molar occlusion to stabilize, and the orthodontic treatment was finally completed in June 2024.

24.06

Of the 18-month treatment period, excluding the break during which we waited for the permanent teeth to emerge, the actual treatment period was approximately one year.

2022.09–24.06

2022.09–24.06

The molar occlusion relationship was precisely Class I.

2022.09–24.06

A fixed wire retainer is essential for both children’s and adults’ orthodontic treatment.

2022.09–24.06

All of the remaining primary teeth fell out and eruption of the permanent teeth was completed within the 18-month treatment period. Therefore, this case was fully completed through adulthood-level orthodontic treatment with Invisalign First for children.

In other words, the treatment was completed successfully in one course, making it unnecessary to undergo orthodontic treatment again as an adult.

2022.09–2024.06

2022.09–2024.06

As the tilted front teeth became upright, the tooth axes were also in good condition.

24.06

When the timing is appropriate, Invisalign First for children can achieve a level of completion that may make adult orthodontic treatment unnecessary.

Thank you for reading this lengthy post.