Teen Braces

Teen braces are very common and most often orthodontic treatment occurs between the ages of 11 and 14. At this time, most if not all of the permanent teeth are in place and crowding, spacing, or bad bites are often noticeable. Teen braces are usually best tolerated and most efficient when completed early as a child or adolescent as opposed to sas an adult.

Since growth is not yet completed, we have the ability to use the remaining growth potential to help move teeth into their ideal positions and correct bite problems. The length of treatment varies depending on the nature of your bite. Minor changes can be corrected in less than 6 months while major changes can take up to 36 months. The average is usually about one and a half to two years.

There are many reasons to seek orthodontic treatment and get braces for teens, but for a complete list with visual examples, visit 

Who Needs Orthodontics.

Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces offer superior durability and are often considered the standard for orthodontic treatment. Today, modern metal braces are smaller and more comfortable than ever. Many adolescent patients prefer metal braces and even look forward to changing the colors at each visit. You can click here to get an idea of your Color Choices and plan ahead for each visit.

Clear (Ceramic) Braces

Clear braces are a popular choice for teens and adults who want to make a less noticeable statement while wearing braces. Clear braces today offer unmatched esthetics and are proven to be as efficient as traditional metal braces. Due to the higher cost to manufacture these ceramic brackets, there is a slightly higher cost for clear braces but it is worth it for those that want to be more discrete about their orthodontic treatment.

Invisalign

If you don’t like how braces will look, Invisalign^®might be the solution for you! Invisalign^® is a series of clear trays, or aligners, that grip your teeth and apply gentle forces to slowly move them into their new position. The clear trays won’t show up in photos or interfere with social activities. You can also remove the trays to brush and floss in order to maintain good oral hygiene throughout treatment. Invisalign^® will work only if the aligners are worn 22 hours a day, which means they are only removed to eat and brush and are promptly placed back onto the teeth. For this reason and others, Invisalign^® is not ideal for everyone. Only you or your teen know if they will follow these orders to achieve the best result. There is a slightly higher cost for Invisalign^® but it’s worth it for those that want to be more discrete about their orthodontic treatment.