What Invisalign First can do for a growing child
Invisalign First uses a series of clear, custom-made trays instead of brackets and wires. Each set is worn for a week or two, then swapped for the next, and the teeth and dental arches move a little at a time. It is made specifically for children who still have some baby teeth, with built-in room so the adult teeth can keep coming through during treatment.
In the right case it can gently widen a narrow arch, make space for crowded or erupting teeth and begin to address some early bite problems, the kind of work often done with an expander or a partial set of braces. It is one of several early-treatment tools Dr. Catherine McLeod uses, and our early treatment page explains the wider approach. For how the aligner options compare across ages, see clear aligners.
How treatment works at Embrace Orthodontics
Everything starts with a free consultation at our Spring Garden Road office in the South End of Halifax. Dr. Catherine McLeod checks your child's teeth, jaw and bite, and if Invisalign First looks like a good fit we take a quick iTero digital scan rather than goopy putty impressions. You get a clear plan and a written quote before anything begins, so the fee and the timeline are set out from the start.
Most children come in every six to eight weeks so Dr. Catherine McLeod can check progress, with aligners changed at home in between. Early treatment with Invisalign First often runs for around a year, though every child is different and we give you an honest range rather than a number off a chart. On cost, interest-free monthly plans start at $149 and we direct-bill most insurance, with the details on our financing page.
Does your child actually need early treatment?
Not every child needs treatment this young, and a good specialist will say so. Many children are best served by simply being watched as they grow, which is exactly what our free growth assessment is for. Dr. Catherine McLeod plans conservatively and recommends early treatment only when there is a clear reason, such as a crossbite, strong crowding or a habit that is affecting how the jaw develops.
When early treatment is the right call, starting at the right moment can make later treatment simpler, and sometimes shorter. When it is not, we will tell you honestly and keep an eye on things instead. As a specialist orthodontist rather than a general dentist, Dr. Catherine McLeod reviews every child's case herself, there is no referral needed, and most families are seen within a week or two.