Invisalign for teens and kids

Page updated October 14, 2026. Medically reviewed by Dr. Abraham Thomas and Dr. Jennifer Loucks-Buren.

Yes, teens can get Invisalign, and younger children can sometimes use clear aligners too. Aligners suit teens with mild to moderate problems who will wear them 20 to 22 hours a day; braces may be better for complex cases or teens who won't keep them in. Clear aligners cost $4,000 to $7,000, similar to braces.

What age can kids get Invisalign?

There's no single age. Treatment depends on the bite and on how the teeth and jaws are developing, which an orthodontist checks; the AAO recommends a first visit by age 7 (AAO). Most children won't need treatment then, but the orthodontist can watch growth and pick the right time (AAO).

Align, the maker of Invisalign, says it has treated more than 6.5 million patients aged 19 or younger since 2001 (Invisalign.com), and it offers a version for younger children too (below). The AAO notes that clear aligners' near invisibility is particularly valued by teens who feel self-conscious about braces (AAO).

Signs your child may need orthodontic treatment

The AAO lists these warning signs (AAO):

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty chewing or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Jaws that shift or click
• Frequent cheek biting
• Facial imbalance

Don't wait for teeth to straighten on their own: the AAO says they won't, because the space for the permanent front teeth doesn't increase as a child grows (AAO). At the first visit, the orthodontist answers four questions: is there a problem, what are the options, how long would treatment take, and what would it cost (AAO).

Invisalign vs braces for teens

Align publishes studies and surveys saying teens find aligners more comfortable and get results equivalent to braces (Invisalign.com). These are the manufacturer's own claims; the AAO's position is that braces and aligners are both effective but suit different situations, and that the right choice is a question for your orthodontist (AAO).

What Invisalign can treat in teens

Clear aligners fix crowded or crooked teeth and some mild to moderate bite problems (Cleveland Clinic). The AAO says they may not work as predictably for severe malocclusions, significant rotations and large gaps, where braces can be more precise (AAO). Align says its aligners also treat complex cases such as severe overbites, open bites and cases involving extractions (Invisalign.com). Some plans combine aligners with elastics or other appliances (AAO). Ask your orthodontist whether your teen's case suits aligners, and why.

The real question: will they wear them?

For teens, wear time decides everything. The AAO says success relies heavily on compliance, and inconsistent wear can extend treatment or compromise results (AAO). Aligners come out for meals and brushing, then go straight back in (AAO). Common problems for teens:

• Losing them. Aligners wrapped in a napkin at lunch get thrown away; always use the case, and keep them away from pets (AAO).
• Drinks. Anything other than water with aligners in can stain them and the teeth and cause cavities (AAO).
• Snacking. Every snack means aligners out, brush, aligners back in (AAO), so grazing eats into wear time.
• Lost or broken trays. Contact the orthodontist straight away (AAO).

Braces work without daily decisions, which is why some families choose them for a teen who might not keep aligners in.

Comfort and daily care

Aligners are smooth and custom-made, which the AAO says minimizes discomfort (AAO), but each new tray can feel tight; the pressure usually eases within a few days, and soft foods, an ice pack on the jaw or an over-the-counter pain reliever help (Cleveland Clinic). Because aligners come out, teens can brush and floss normally and have no food restrictions (AAO). The trade-off is discipline: brush before putting aligners back in after eating (AAO), and clean the aligners as well as the teeth (AAO).

How much Invisalign costs for teens

Price depends on the case, not the age. In CareCredit data published in 2022, clear aligners cost $4,000 to $7,000 and metal braces $3,000 to $7,000; CareCredit's 2024 averages were $5,108 for aligners and $6,343 for metal braces (CareCredit).

Teens are more likely than adults to have orthodontic coverage: dental coverage is an essential health benefit for children in Marketplace plans (HealthCare.gov). Plans usually pay up to a lifetime maximum; in OrthoFi data for 2021 cited by Align, coverage averaged $1,772 (Align, citing OrthoFi). Ask whether the plan pays the same for aligners as for braces, and whether lost or replacement aligners cost extra. Money in a health FSA can also pay toward treatment; the 2025 limit is $3,300 (IRS Publication 969). See Invisalign cost and dental insurance for braces.

How long Invisalign takes for teens

Align says some teen cases take as little as 6 months, while complex cases can take 18 months or longer (Invisalign.com). It also cites a 2024 study of teens aged 12 to 18 in which Invisalign treatment took about 18 months versus 24 for braces (Invisalign.com). Independent sources are more cautious: the AAO says aligners have no built-in speed advantage over braces (AAO). More on how long Invisalign takes.

Invisalign for younger kids

Align markets an option for children aged about 6 to 10, for early "Phase 1" treatment while baby teeth are still falling out, with features that adapt as permanent teeth come in (Invisalign.com). Early treatment can make sense for some problems, and the AAO says an early visit lets the orthodontist pick the right time (AAO). Align describes this as Phase 1, followed later by Phase 2 treatment (Invisalign.com), so ask what the full plan and total cost will be. See braces for kids and teens.

After treatment: retainers

Whether your teen has aligners or braces, the result needs a retainer. Teeth tend to drift back once treatment ends, so most people wear a retainer full time for a few months and then at night indefinitely (AAO). Align makes Vivera retainers; Healthline puts a set at $400 to $1,200 (Healthline). Clear retainers can be lost like aligners, so the same case habits matter. Compare options on types of retainers.

When braces may be the better choice

Braces may suit a teen better when the problem is severe, involves significant rotations or large gaps (AAO), or needs the direct control an orthodontist has at every adjustment (AAO). They're also the safer bet for a teen who won't wear aligners consistently. If cost is the deciding factor, metal braces have the lowest price range of the main options (CareCredit); see types of braces.

Tips for parents

• Ask the orthodontist whether aligners and braces would both work, and what each would cost for your child's case.
• Be honest about your teen's habits; aligners only work when worn (AAO).
• Ask how many replacement aligners are included and what a lost one costs.
• Get a second opinion if unsure; it's normal to get different plans from different orthodontists (AAO).
• Budget for retainers after treatment.