Orthodontics for Teens

You Need Braces, Now What?

You've just heard the three words that every teen dreads: “YOU NEED BRACES!”

Don't worry! Braces aren't nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, braces today come in a variety of styles, materials, and colors, making life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past.

All About Teen Orthodontics

The teen years (between the ages of 12 and 16) are the most common time for orthodontic treatment because most permanent teeth will be in place.

Experienced orthodontists like, Dr. Sarah, can easily recognize issues with spacing, crowding, bite, and alignment during this age range. Your teen’s bone and jaw structure are developed enough at this point to allow orthodontic treatment to begin.

Signs Your Teen Needs Treatment

If you notice any of the following issues, we recommend a complimentary consultation with Dr. Sarah at Imagine Orthodontics, since they could be signs your teen would benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Early, late, or irregular loss of their baby teeth
Difficulty with chewing or biting
Crowding or extra spacing between teeth
Jaws that shift or make sounds
Frequent biting of the cheek or the inside of the mouth
Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
Protrusion of teeth

Bite Problems

Diagnosing and successfully treating certain bite problems can have short-term and long-term benefits.

Problems classified as “bad bites” can often be minimized with the proper orthodontic treatment, including:

Crooked or crowded teeth
Missing or extra teeth
An overbite or underbite
Incorrect jaw position
A disorder of the jaw joint

Benefits of a Straight Smile

The benefits of orthodontic treatment are more than cosmetic. Health benefits include:

Being less prone to wear and tear, chipping, and tooth trauma
Being easier to keep clean, helping to prevent tooth decay and cavities
Reducing the chances of developing gum disease, which can result in bone loss, decay, and tooth loss
Improving proper chewing and digestion of food

Choose Your Treatment

After evaluating your teen’s smile, Dr. Sarah may recommend an orthodontic appliance.

Here at Imagine Orthodontics, options include:

Metal Braces

Bulky braces are a thing of the past. At Imagine Orthodontics, we use lightweight traditional metal and Damon Self-Ligating Brackets, making your experience more comfortable.

Ceramic Braces

Also known as clear braces, these work the same way as metal braces, but feature brackets that blend in with your teen’s smile.

Invisalign® for Teens

The Invisalign system is made up of a series of fully customized, clear aligners. These can straighten your teen’s smile without any metal or wires.

FAQs About Teen Orthodontics

How long will I have to wear braces?

The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with braces depends on three key factors:

Early treatment — Early treatment allows Dr. Sarah to monitor the growth of the jaw and recommend further orthodontic treatment if it becomes necessary. Not everybody receives early orthodontic treatment and in some cases, it may be recommended that a patient wait until they are older to receive treatment.
What needs correction — The amount of treatment needed to correct a problem will determine how long the process takes. Different patients react to treatments differently, so while it may take one patient only 12 months to complete their treatment, it may take another 24 months. Treatment times can vary depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the show-stopping smile you expect.
YOU! — Your willingness to use the appliances your orthodontist gives you plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always remember to take care of your braces and appliances; this truly will help make your treatment shorter!

Can teens still play sports?

Absolutely! If your teen athlete is wearing traditional braces, it’s crucial to protect their smile to stay on track with their treatment.

We strongly recommend that they use an orthodontic mouthguard to protect their braces, and their mouth, from any potential injury.

Your teen can play any contact sport if they use the proper orthodontic mouthguard.

If your teen has Invisalign, they can take their aligner out before practice or a game, and put it back in afterward.

What about band?

Make an Investment in Your Teen’s Smile Today

During your free consultation, Dr. Sarah will be happy to discuss the benefits of treatment, as well as, the risk of putting it off.

Orthodontic treatment is an investment in your child’s future. We can’t wait to help you get started!

​​You Need Braces, Now What?