In our previous blog, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist discussed the use of phased orthodontics to help improve oral health for children. In today’s blog, we’re going to take a look at the options we provide for older teens. From clear aligners to cosmetic braces, we have different choices to help our teen patients enjoy healthier smiles and straighter teeth.
Addressing Poor Alignment
How does an uneven smile impact our overall oral health? First, people often find thorough brushing and flossing is difficult when teeth crowd and overlap. Which means food can remain trapped between the teeth even if you brush and floss daily. Over time, bacteria will break down these food particles and in the process, increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. For others, misalignment can upset bite balance and place pressure on the jaw joints, leading to TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). The esthetics of the smile can also impact your child’s willingness to smile, causing issues with confidence. By addressing poor alignment, we can improve overall oral health and also improve a teen’s confidence in his or her smile!
Invisalign® Or Braces?
For teens receiving treatment for the first time, we’ll likely recommend braces to correct uneven smiles. We place metal brackets onto the front-facing sides of the teeth and connect them with an arch wire. By adjusting tension in the arch wire, we can reposition the teeth. To limit the appearance of these braces, we may use ceramic to create the brackets instead of metal. Ceramic can be shaded to match the color of your teeth, which reduces the visibility of your orthodontics.
However, if your teen wore interceptive orthodontics in childhood, then they’ve already received key orthodontic treatment. Which means instead of braces, we may be able to offer treatment with clear Invisalign® aligners. We will take detailed impressions with digital technology, designing and creating a series of aligners from a BPA-free and clear acrylic material. Patients wear a set for 20 to 22 hours a day, for about two weeks, then they move on to the next set. Total treatment time takes between a year and 18 months, depending on the extent of the misalignment. If you have any questions about Invisalign® or our tooth-colored brackets, then contact our team today. We would love to help your children enjoy optimal oral health and more attractive smiles.
Do You Have Any Questions?
If you have a teen in need of orthodontic care, then please contact our team today to set up an appointment. To schedule your consultation and learn more about improving smiles, then please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in Haslet, Azle, and all surrounding communities.
