It’s a myth that only teenagers can and should wear braces. Orthodontic treatment can be helpful at any age, but earlier is best. The best time to treat tooth misalignment and bite issues is right away.
By the age of 12, most of your teen’s adult teeth have emerged. Their orthodontist can clearly see how their teeth and bite have developed. Thus, they can identify issues like crowded teeth or an overbite. These problems may seem purely cosmetic at first; however, they pose a serious risk to your child’s long-term oral health. It’s important to fix these issues promptly and effectively.
It’s easier and faster to correct orthodontic issues in teenagers than in adults. Their jaw and facial bones are still forming, making adjustments more effective, efficient, and comfortable. Fortunately, there are several options for orthodontic treatment for teens.
What is orthodontic treatment, and why is it important?
Orthodontic treatment is used to fix tooth misalignment, like crooked, overcrowded, or gapped teeth. Braces and other orthodontic options also repair minor to moderate jaw malocclusion, including overbites, underbites, and crossbites.
Correcting misaligned teeth and malocclusion dramatically transforms the appearance of your teen’s smile. However, these adjustments are about more than just how their smile looks. Orthodontics is about improving the function of the teeth and jaws, preventing future oral health complications, and creating a more aesthetic smile for life.
Crooked, crowded, or otherwise misaligned teeth are harder to care for. Regular oral hygiene, ranging from brushing to flossing, becomes much more difficult because there are more hard-to-reach places where oral bacteria, food particles, and plaque can hide.
Eventually, these leftover particles harden into tartar and cause tooth decay. Many teens already struggle to stick to their at-home oral hygiene habits, so an uneven smile makes matters worse.
Severe tooth misalignment and bite issues can cause more trouble later in life. Your teen could develop a speech impediment, have difficulty breathing, or suffer because of long-term blows to their self-esteem.
Teen dentistry helps set your child up for a lifetime of oral health and confidence.
Different Options for Teen Orthodontic Treatment
Modern dentistry has many different tools for correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. Clear aligners and braces for orthodontic treatment are the most popular choices. Both use subtle yet constant pressure to guide teeth into the proper positions slowly. Exactly how they do this, however, depends on the type of braces.
Each style has different advantages and disadvantages. Your teen’s orthodontist at Casa Dental will help you (and your teen) decide which will be most effective.
Traditional Metal Braces
Orthodontists trust metal braces to deliver effective results for a wide range of dental issues, including complex alignment problems. Tried and true, they remain the most common type of braces for teenagers.
Metal braces are adhered to your teen’s teeth, so they cannot be removed except by a dentist. This solves issues of compliance, which can be a major challenge for younger patients.
Traditional metal braces apply pressure to misaligned teeth using stainless steel brackets, archwires, and elastic bands. They’re relatively durable, although certain foods are off-limits during treatment.
- Advantages: Highly effective, capable of correcting complex problems, fairly durable, customizable with coloured elastic bands, and cost-effective.
- Disadvantages: Very visible, can cause some discomfort, and has a longer treatment time.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces work in the same way as metal braces. However, the brackets and wires are tooth-coloured, blending in with the rest of your teen’s smile for a more discreet look. Although not invisible, ceramic braces are less noticeable than traditional metal braces. Older teens, in particular, often prefer them for this reason.
Ceramic braces are just as effective as metal braces, but they are slightly more fragile.
- Advantages: Very effective, capable of correcting complex problems, more discrete.
- Disadvantages: Slightly less durable, can stain if improperly cared for.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are another version of traditional braces. However, like ceramic braces, these are popular because they are more discreet. In fact, lingual braces are practically invisible.
All of the components (brackets, wires) are adhered to the back sides of the teeth instead of the front. Since they face inwards, towards the tongue, they are completely hidden from view most of the time.
- Advantages: Very effective, capable of correcting complex problems, more discrete.
- Disadvantages: Can be more uncomfortable.
Self-Ligating Braces
Self-ligating braces also use brackets and wires to guide misaligned teeth, but without elastic ties. Instead, a mechanism is built directly into the bracket to hold the archwire, allowing for smoother movement and less friction. Fewer adjustments are needed, which means fewer tightening appointments at Casa Dental. This is great news for busy families.
- Advantages: Very effective, fewer office visits, more comfortable.
- Disadvantages: Very visible, higher cost, risk of repairs.
Clear Aligners
Lastly, clear aligners are growing in popularity for both teenagers and adults. Invisalign treatment uses transparent, custom-made aligners to gently move teeth into place and correct a wide range of orthodontic issues. They are very effective, comfortable, and incredibly inconspicuous.
Each set of trays is made specifically for your teen, ensuring a perfect fit and proper treatment. Plus, they can be removed for eating, drinking, and cleaning. This means your teen won’t have to forgo their favourite foods during treatment.
Invisalign has one major downside for teenagers. Trays must be worn at least 22 hours a day; otherwise, the treatment will be much slower or fail altogether. Compliance is the biggest challenge, but many teens are up for it.
- Advantages: Effective, very discreet, more comfortable than other brace options, shorter treatment time.
- Disadvantages: Compliance can be a challenge for teens, trays must be worn for 22 hours a day.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Treatment
- The severity of their malocclusion: Severe cases typically require traditional braces for effective correction. Minor cases, on the other hand, may be corrected with Invisalign.
- Ability to stick to their treatment plan: Invisalign requires teens to be self-responsible. They need to be able to commit to wearing their aligners for 22-plus hours per day. If you foresee compliance being an issue with your teen, then traditional braces are the better option.
- Lifestyle, activities, and hobbies: Teens actively involved in sports may prefer clear aligners, as braces may interfere with their activities.
- Aesthetics and self-esteem: For some teens, the visibility of metal braces can be very detrimental to their self-confidence.
Choose Casa Dental for Orthodontic Treatment and Teen Dentistry
Casa Dental is a family-friendly dental practice, committed to caring for the oral health of every member of your family. We offer orthodontic treatment for teenagers to correct tooth misalignment and bite issues so that they can enjoy a healthy and beautiful smile for life. As an Invisalign specialist, our dental team provides clear instructions for your teen to ensure they have a successful and efficient treatment.
We can also determine if your insurance will cover part of your teen’s Invisalign treatment, and offer flexible financing options to help.
To book an appointment in Toronto, call Casa Dental at 888-920-5324 or contact us here. For a dentist in Mississauga, you can call us at 888-270-8793.
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