TREATMENT OPTIONS
BRACES
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Braces during the teenage
years can be very effective
Since the jaw is still growing and adjusting, this can make realignment potentially easier. When alignments are corrected in the teenage years, that can lead to an adulthood with a straight, confident smile — something to really make them feel proud!
When Should a Teenager See an Orthodontist?
When Should a Teenager See an Orthodontist?
While the goal of Phase I Orthodontic Treatment is to prepare the mouth for the adult teeth, Phase II Orthodontic Treatment refers to orthodontic treatment that involves the adult teeth.
If your teenager does not already have a treatment plan in place from an earlier age, it’s important that they see an orthodontist for an evaluation.
By early adolescence, the adult teeth have fully come in, and wisdom teeth may have been removed to create more space in the jaw. If any treatment is considered to be necessary, a treatment plan can be started at any age.
When Should a Teenager See an Orthodontist?
Who Needs Phase II Treatment?
Teenagers who require braces usually fall into one, if not more, of these five categories:
1. Crowded teeth: When teeth are too close together, food and plaque can get trapped, causing decay. Braces can help correct this crowding, and return teeth to proper alignment.
2. Teeth gaps: Irregular spacing between teeth can make teenagers feel shy and self-conscious. Thankfully, braces can help correct these gaps.
3. Malocclusion: Misaligned teeth — including overbites, underbites, crossbites, or open bites — all refer to teeth that do not line up properly when closed at rest. Braces can help address these misalignments.
4. Missing teeth: Sometimes, adult teeth that are missing for whatever reason can create extra space that the other neighboring teeth want to fill. Address any missing teeth early with a customized braces treatment plan to create a healthy smile.
5. Craniofacial differences: Cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries in childhood will often require orthodontic evaluation and treatment. For these issues, and other craniofacial differences, early evaluation by an orthodontist is recommended.
Will I Need to Wear a Retainer
After Braces?
After completing your orthodontic treatment, it’s important to maintain that beautiful smile with a retainer. Your teen will be fitted for a retainer, which they should wear as directed in order to keep all that diligent work in place.
