When your teenager is ready to address his or her misalignment, we could offer cosmetic treatment options. Not only do we have clear and cozy Invisalign® aligners, but we also have braces with lifelike ceramic braces. In today’s blog, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist talks about these cosmetic treatments for teen patients.
The Value of Correcting Misalignment
You want the best for your children, and want them to be healthy. Which means you should also consider their smile. Misalignment isn’t just a cosmetic issue, but also one that could lead to complications in adulthood. For example, uneven teeth make thorough brushing and flossing difficult, so the risk of tooth decay and gum disease is much higher. This also alters bite balance and could strain the jaw joints, so your child could experience TMJ disorder and chronic teeth grinding in their adult years. For others, the factors behind misalignment also restrict airways, so sleep apnea is a problem in later years too. Fortunately, we can treat malocclusion to help prevent these issues.
Invisalign® for Teens
Invisalign® is the preferred option for our teen patients, as they’re practically invisible when worn. We use iTero® digital imaging technology to create detailed images of the smile, which we use to design and craft a series of aligners. Each set is custom-made for your child’s smile, so they’re comfortable when worn and provide treatment with precision and accuracy. A set is worn daily for about 20 to 22 hours on average. After two weeks, the next set in the series is worn and this process continues for a year to 18 months in most cases. These can also be removed before meals or prior to brushing and flossing, so daily life is much simpler.
Cosmetic Braces
While we know our patients prefer Invisalign®, sometimes their misalignment is too severe to be addressed with aligners. In these situations, braces could be the optimal option. However! We still have a cosmetic approach to make them less visible. Our team will use ceramic brackets instead of metal ones, placing them on the front facing sides of each tooth and connecting a thin wire to them with a clear band. This makes the braces less visible, as we shade the ceramic to blend with the tooth. If you have any questions, then give us a call today!
Ready to Schedule Your Teen’s Appointment?
We would like to help address uneven smiles and enjoy better oral health with straighter teeth. If you have any questions about helping teenagers in our community, or if you would like to schedule an appointment soon, please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in White Settlement, North Fort Worth, and all surrounding communities.
