Adolescents
We offer MANY options for adolescents and teens to straighten their teeth.
It's a fact that most people are not born with a proper bite or well-aligned teeth. As a result, many people have a "great smile" that is filled with crooked teeth. We straighten teeth so that "great smiles" are filled with straight teeth to make an attractive smile. Orthodontic treatment helps patients have a smile that they are comfortable with.
Most adolescents and pre-teens are perfectly fine with getting metal braces, where they can choose their "colors" to hold the wire to the braces. However, for teenagers who are self-conscious about wearing metal braces, we also have many alternatives:
Metal Braces
In our office, we offer the latest, hi-tech metal braces. Braces today are smaller, flatter, and much more comfortable. Years of research on tooth movement have resulted in wires that move teeth much more efficiently and result in patients wearing braces for less time and with a better result.
Ceramic Clear Braces
A popular alternative to braces, particularly among older teens and adults, is clear braces. Clear braces today are extremely hi-tech and perform just as well as metal braces. Clear braces combined with white wires and clear elastics ties are much less noticeable than metal brackets. Today's clear braces are also very stain resistant and do not discolor like ones in the past. In certain cases, we can do clear braces on top and metal on the bottom.
Invisalign Teen
Invisalign® Teen is the most recent alternative to braces that teens have to straighten their teeth. Invisalign® Teen is similar to adult Invisalign® but has incorporated new features designed to address specific needs that are common and unique to teenagers. The cost of Invisalign® is typically about the same as traditional braces.
Invisalign® Teen consists of a series of clear and custom-made aligners that fit smoothly and comfortably on patients’ teeth to gradually move them into the desired position.
BUT INVISALIGN® TAKES A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY!
Aligners must be worn 20-22 hours every day with NO EXCEPTIONS. Basically, aligners must be worn all the time except during eating, brushing, flossing, playing sports or attending special occasions. Each set of aligners are worn and changed-out every 2 weeks. Office visits are typically every 6-8 weeks so we can check the progress and give patients their next series of aligners.
Beyond the near invisibility of the trays, other advantages of Invisalign® Teen include:
The ability to be “braceless” for milestone events like prom and senior pictures
Better maintain oral hygiene since aligners can be removed to brush and floss
There are no restrictions on eating and drinking
Teenagers can keep up their active lifestyle, play sports, and feel more comfortable smiling during social activities
Invisalign® often requires fewer office visits, shorter appointments, and there are typically no "emergency" visits
In summary, Invisalign Teen can effectively correct crowded teeth, widely spaced teeth, and other orthodontic problems and be a good alternative to traditional braces. However, like any removable orthodontic appliance, teeth can only move if the trays are worn as prescribed.
Dr. Meyer will present you all viable options specific to your treatment during your initial exam and help answer any questions including ones about alternatives to braces.
Parents can also help make teeth-straightening a positive experience for their teen by taking a few simple steps:
Talk it out with your child
Talking to your teenager about having braces may be difficult when they may have a hard time focusing on its long-term benefits. As a parent, you can help them to focus on the long-term by getting them to visualize themselves with a fantastic smile in year or two! Sometimes having your child see a friend or celebrity with a fantastic smile may help convince them of the benefit of wearing braces now.Understand your options
Teens today have choices. It is our mission that you and your child understand treatment options available so that you may make the best informed decision. Allowing teens to take an active part in deciding their own treatment decision helps them become more willing participants and better patients.Why Now?
For teenagers, now is a great time to have orthodontic treatment to get the perfect smile that will last a lifetime. This is the time that many of your child’s friends will also be having treatments to straighten their teeth. Furthermore, orthodontic correction often requires modifying jaw growth in one, two, or all three planes of space. Once a teenager gets older and jaw growth is complete, our ability to achieve a perfect result is impossible and we must find an acceptable compromise, such as extracting teeth or even considering jaw surgery.What if you put it off?
Not fixing crooked teeth can cause serious dental problems that may worsen over time. Tooth decay, gum problems, and even tooth loss can occur if orthodontic problems are left uncorrected which may also emotionally impact a teen. Teenagers who are unhappy about the appearance of their teeth may purposely hide their smile or not smile at all, and their self-esteem may suffer.