Does My Teen Need to See an Orthodontist?

Many children and teenagers get braces to straighten their smiles, but how do you know when your child should start orthodontic treatment? In this blog post, we’ll explore how to decide if your teen needs to see an orthodontist.

What Orthodontics Can Fix

Orthodontics is a specialty within dentistry that focuses on fixing misaligned teeth, jaws, and bite patterns. The aim of orthodontics isn’t just to straighten out smiles to make them more attractive but to make them more functional as well.

Some of the common issues that orthodontics can address include:

• Crooked teeth
• Jaw misalignment
• Overbites, underbites, crossbites, etc.
• Gaps
• Overcrowding

The human jaw is meant to facilitate ease of eating and communication. Misaligned teeth, jaws, or bites can impede full enjoyment of your smile. Additionally, misalignment can contribute to issues like gum disease and decay due to the complicated nature of brushing and flossing an uneven smile.

Orthodontic Options

The most common and versatile orthodontic treatment is braces, which employ wires and brackets to shift teeth into their desired positions.

Clear aligners are another great orthodontic option. Best for responsible patients with mild to moderate misalignment, clear aligner therapy involves wearing removable clear aligners over the teeth for 20-22 hours a day.

At Tots to Teens Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we offer both braces and clear aligner therapy for children and adults!

The Right Time to Get Braces

We recommend scheduling an orthodontic consultation for children when they are 7 years old. However, it is never too late to achieve a straighter smile! If your teen has crooked teeth, bite issues, jaw issues, crowded teeth, or gaps, they can benefit from orthodontic treatment now. Schedule a consultation at our office to determine which type of orthodontic treatment is right for them!

Affordable Orthodontist in San Antonio, TX

Our team at Tots to Teens Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics would love to help your teenager take the plunge into orthodontic treatment! If cost is a concern, please know that we work with patients directly to find an affordable treatment plan that fits within your budget. Contact us today!

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Categorised in: Orthodontics, Teen Teeth