For a teenager in Liberty Lake with a full calendar, clear aligners can be the least disruptive way through orthodontic treatment. Our office at 21950 E Country Vista Dr, Suite 100A in Liberty Lake treats aligner cases for teens from Liberty Lake, Greenacres, Otis Orchards, and Spokane Valley, and Dr. Josh Johnson plans each one himself.
What Makes Aligners Work For Teens
They are removable, so sports, band, and photos are unaffected. They are nearly invisible, which is the reason most teens ask. Eating is normal, so nothing gets banned for two years. And hygiene stays unchanged — brushing and flossing exactly as before, which genuinely matters for enamel health at this age.
The scheduling piece is underrated: DentalMonitoring lets your teen scan with a phone between visits so we can verify progress without pulling them out of school. Combined with iTero scanning and in-house 3D printing, that means fewer appointments overall. See our technology page.
Wear Time Is The Whole Ballgame
Twenty to twenty-two hours a day, out for meals and brushing only. Aligners in a backpack accomplish nothing, and the plan we design assumes the wear time we prescribe.
We assess this frankly with families before starting, because the alternative is a year of no progress. If aligners are not a realistic bet, tooth-colored clear braces give a similar cosmetic result and work continuously without depending on discipline. Dr. Johnson will make a specific recommendation.
Practical Rules
- Only water while wearing them. Soda, sports drinks, and coffee stain the aligner and hold sugar against the teeth.
- Rinse on removal, brush before reinserting.
- Use the case at every meal — lost aligners are almost always napkin casualties.
- Keep the previous set until the next check as a backup.
- New sets feel tight for a day or two. That is normal and expected.
Cost, Hours, And Credentials
We are open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; call or text (509) 277-9773. Fees depend on the case, and a payment calculator plus financial information are available under patient resources. Most dental plans with an orthodontic benefit apply, and we will review yours before treatment begins.
Dr. Johnson earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington in 2002 and a Master of Science in Orthodontics from the University of Michigan in 2005, and has practiced since 2006. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, and the Washington State Society of Orthodontists. Read our patient reviews or see why families choose us.
What Happens At The First Visit
The consultation is free and takes about an hour. We photograph and scan your teen’s teeth with the iTero scanner, capture imaging as needed, and generate a Smile Simulation of the projected result. Dr. Johnson examines the bite, explains what he sees, and recommends an approach — to your teen as much as to you, because teens follow plans they understand.
Nothing starts that day. You leave with a plan, a timeline, and a clear picture of fees before any commitment.
Common Teen Questions
- Will people be able to tell? Rarely, which is why teens ask for aligners in the first place.
- Do I have to take them out for sports? For contact sports, yes — and that flexibility is an advantage.
- Can I chew gum? Not with them in. Take them out, then put them back.
- What if a set cracks? Call or text (509) 277-9773 and wear the previous set until we advise.
- Will I need a retainer after? Yes, and wearing it is what keeps the result. This is not negotiable.
Some cases use small tooth-colored attachments so the aligners can grip and rotate specific teeth; they come off at the end. See orthodontic treatment for the wider treatment range.
Get Your Free Smile Consult
Book a free consult — call or text (509) 277-9773, or contact us for our Liberty Lake office.