If you’re considering braces for your teen, you’ve got questions. Lots of them… and perhaps so many that you don’t know exactly where to start.
This brief guide is intended to guide to take you through some of the top-level concerns and guide your questions and research so that you can get some peace of mind about your teen’s teeth, and what the braces experience will involve for both of you.
WHY GET BRACES AS A TEEN?
There are many reasons, but perhaps the biggest one is simply this: teeth are easier to fix during teenage years.
The optimal time to correct teeth is shortly after your full set of adult teeth have come in. The jaw hasn’t fully hardened, and teeth are more responsive to orthodontic treatment. This usually makes treatment simpler, faster and in many cases less costly.
HOW LONG WILL TREATMENT TAKE?
Treatment time can vary according to the complexity of each individual case. Everyone has their own unique set of teeth, which comes with unique structure and alignment issues.
These factors make it hard to pin down a specific treatment time, but a rough average would be: treatment and correction (braces and more frequent appointments) within 12 months, and retention and supervision (occasional checkups to ensure that beautiful smile sticks around) for another 18 months.
Keep these time frames in mind when planning on braces around big life events like formals, overseas holidays and exchange programs.
WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE? WHAT ARE THE PROS + CONS?
Most general cases can be addressed with traditional braces or Invisalign, and deciding between these two options is one of the biggest choices most teens make when considering dental treatment.
(Many other cases will involve a combination of plates, retainers, dental appliances and other apparatus, but here we will go over just traditional braces vs. Invisalign.
| Treatment | Pros | Cons |
| Traditional Braces | Less costly | More visibleCan involve discomfort from wires and brackets |
| Damon Traditional Braces | Less visible than traditional bracesMove teeth more efficiently than traditional bracesMay require fewer appointments | Still visibleCan involve discomfort from wires and brackets |
| Invisalign | Nearly invisibleEasily removableMore comfortable | Can be more costlyMust brush teeth after all meals to avoid staining |
EDUCATE YOURSELF!
The more you know – and the more your teen knows – the easier the process will be, and the fewer worries and difficulties you both will have.
Do your research. Learn more than what we’ve said here! The options are many, and knowledge is power.
Know what the experience will be like, and understand what your teen is going through.
- Ask other parents of children with braces
- Ask your teen what they want to know, or what they’re worried about
Ask for advice! Nothing can teach you faster – and introduce you to things you didn’t know you need to know – than a chat with an orthodontist. We’re available any time during business hours, and can answer all your many questions!
READY TO LEARN MORE?
As specialist orthodontists, we’ve seen it all. We also know what a big choice getting treatment can be. If you’d like to read more, visit us online. Start learning about Invisalign here. For traditional braces, we offer a slightly more advanced and convenient technology called Damon braces. Learn about our Traditional Damon Braces here.
If you’ve got any questions, or would just like to speak to a specialist and get some more advice, get in touch!