Invest in Your Teen
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.
Luckily, some new solutions work to make the treatment process much easier than ever before.
All About Orthodontics for Teens
Experienced orthodontists like Dr. Li can easily recognize issues with spacing, crowding, bite, and alignment in this age range. Your teen’s bone and jaw structure are formed enough to allow orthodontic treatment to begin.
Beyond outward appearances, untreated dental problems can have a lasting impact on your teen’s oral and overall health.
Some teens may have even started Phase I treatment at an earlier age, and are now following it up with full braces or other orthodontic treatment.
If you notice any of the following issues, we recommend a free consultation with Dr. Li at Embrace Orthodontics. They could be signs your teen may 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
Bad Bites
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:
- An overbite or underbite
- Crooked or crowded teeth
- A disorder of the jaw joint
- Missing or extra teeth
- Incorrect jaw position
Benefits of a Straight Smile
Straight teeth that respond well to orthodontic treatment have many benefits, including:
- Reducing the chances of developing gum disease, which can result in bone loss, decay, and tooth loss
- Improving proper chewing and digestion of food
- Being less prone to wear and tear, chipping, and tooth trauma
- Being easier to keep clean, helping to prevent tooth decay and cavities
Choose Your Look
While creating a customized treatment plan for your teen, we might recommend an orthodontic appliance.
Here at Embrace Orthodontics, we offer:
Metal Braces
Braces have come a very long way, even within the past decade. When many people think of braces, they think of large and uncomfortable metal brackets.
We don’t use this type of bulky orthodontic appliance. Many of the new braces are lighter and more comfortable than ever before.
Ceramic Braces
These braces, also known as clear braces, work like metal braces, but feature brackets made of tooth-colored ceramic materials.
They blend in with your teen’s smile, making them much less obvious. Since ceramic braces are slightly more prone to breaking, and a little costlier than metal braces, they may not be best for everyone.
Invisalign®
The Invisalign system is made up of a series of fully customized, clear trays called aligners. These aligners are nearly invisible and totally removable.
Made of soft plastic, they provide a more comfortable orthodontic experience, with no friction or abrasions inside your teen’s mouth.
Invisalign works best for mild to moderate orthodontic issues, and may not be an option if your teen needs more serious treatment.
Each week your teen will switch their aligner for the next in the set. When worn the recommended 20-22 hours per day, your teen’s teeth will gradually move into the desired positions. For great pictures of the finished product be sure to follow our social.
FAQs About Teen Orthodontics
This question doesn’t have a concrete answer, unfortunately. Every case is different, but the average length of the active stage of orthodontic treatment is anywhere from 6-36 months.
After this phase of treatment is complete, your teen will need to wear a retainer for as long as Dr. Li instructs. We work as a team with both parents and teen to create a smile that will last a lifetime.
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 a mouth guard approved for orthodontic patients.
If your teen has Invisalign, they can take their aligner out before practice or a game, and put it back in afterward.
Traditional metal braces might affect the way your teen plays some instruments.
Invisalign is an excellent alternative treatment because removing their aligner before playing gives them no limitations.
