Why do teens need braces?
The teen years present the perfect time for braces! Permanent teeth have erupted and are stabilizing, and the gums are ideally impressionable during these years.
Once all permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth, are in place during the early adult years, a person may require a longer treatment period or various appliances to guide the teeth into alignment. The early to mid teen years are ideal for treating conditions before they progress too far.
If a poor orthodontic condition (or misalignment) goes untreated, it’s very likely that it will affect a person’s quality of life.
Poor orthodontic conditions can:
- Cause pain and soreness in the mouth
- Restrict airways
- Cause mouth-breathing
- Hinder sleep quality
- Cause facial deformities
- Cause poor oral hygiene, which can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss
- Lead to poor self-esteem
Common Conditions Treated with Braces for Teens
We often treat the following conditions with braces for our teen patients:
- Crowded teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Gapped teeth
- Poor bites (overbite, underbite, open bite, cross bite)
- Overjet
Types of Braces for Teens
Every teen is different, so we offer different types of braces to accommodate our patients. Teens have the choice of Damon® braces and Invisalign® Teen clear aligners for clearly beautiful teeth.
Teens are no longer limited to traditional, metal braces. We’re proud to offer braces that are comfortable and nearly-invisible for our teen patients.
How long will I wear braces?
Your treatment period will always depend on your specific orthodontic condition, your preferred type of braces, and your diligence (when wearing Invisalign clear aligners.)
Your treatment period with Invisalign Teen
Your treatment period is subject to vary depending on the severity of your condition, but most cases take about 24 months to treat with Invisalign Teen clear aligners. Although, if you don’t wear your aligners for at least 20 to 23 hours a day, you may require a longer treatment period.
Your treatment period with Damon Clear braces
Again, your treatment period may vary depending on the severity of your condition, but most cases can be treated with Damon Clear braces about 6 months earlier than with traditional braces! Your treatment period with Damon braces can range anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
Contact us to schedule an appointment. We have offices in West Spartanburg, East Spartanburg, Duncan, Union and Gaffney.
At Nease & Higginbotham Orthodontics, we offer a low cost to braces to meet each family and individuals financial needs!