ProviderBraces for Teens' Unique Needs
Among our teenage patients, braces tend to be a controversial subject. It's understandable! The teenage years can be tough, and adding braces to the mix can feel daunting.
While many teenagers are excited about getting a straighter smile, and some even love the quirky element braces can add to their personal style, others are less enthusiastic. They worry about how braces will change the look of their smile during treatment, and what their friends might think.
To help address these concerns, we can offer kids who are worried about aesthetics lower-profile, streamlined options like self-ligating and translucent braces.
And for teens who want to fully embrace the look of braces, traditional metal braces with coloured elastics can be a great choice!
Whatever your teen's attitude and feelings about getting braces, we're here to help get them through it with sound advice, moral support, and a smile.
Orthodontic Treatment During the Teen Years
Orthodontic treatment between the ages of 12 and 18 is designed to guide the healthy development of teens' smiles. Braces may be part of your teen's orthodontic treatment at Shuswap Orthodontics.
Learn More About Orthodontics for TeensThe Benefits of Braces for Teenagers
With the availability of Invisalign clear aligner treatment, you may be wondering why we still often recommend braces for teenagers. Here are a few reasons that for some teens, braces are the ideal option.
Versatility
When it comes to complex orthodontic cases, braces can apply more force to move teeth more quickly than clear aligners can. This means if your teen has a more advanced misalignment and they want to get through treatment as quickly as possible, braces may be the way to go.
Compliance to Treatment
Teenagers get busy. They get distracted, and sometimes they can be a bit irresponsible (weren't we all at that age?). For some teens, this makes it difficult to stay compliant to treatment with removable clear aligners.
Braces are fixed to the teeth and cannot be removed, so they can't get lost. And their durability makes them difficult to damage – both advantages for teenagers with a lot going on!
Aesthetics
Traditional metal braces and even translucent or self-ligating braces don't have the discreet, barely-there appearance that Invisalign aligners have. However, they can be a fun part of a teenager's personal style during treatment.
Coloured elastics can be added and changed out at each adjustment appointment, meaning you child can choose fun colours based on their personal aesthetic, the seasons, or even their favourite sports teams!
Treatment with Braces at Shuswap Orthodontics
Orthodontic braces traditionally straighten teeth using a combination of brackets, elastic bands, and wires.
But the braces of today aren't the clunky, uncomfortable face-full-of-metal that you might be picturing from decades ago.
Modern braces are more streamlined, more comfortable, and (dare we say?) cooler than ever before.