ProviderThe Tried & True Way to Achieve Straighter Teen Smiles
Among our teen 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 to start their journey to a straighter smile and even love the quirky element braces can add to their personal style, others are less enthusiastic. They worry about how their braces will change the look of their smile, and what their friends might think.
To help address these concerns, our Georgetown and Orangeville orthodontists offer self-ligating and translucent braces as more streamlined, lower-profile options.
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 the smile then finesse the overall appearance. Braces may be part of your teen's orthodontic treatment at Meldrum 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 would still recommend braces for many of our teenage patients. Here are a few great reasons why we feel that braces are often the ideal treatment option for teens:
Versatility
When it comes to complex orthodontic cases, braces have the ability to apply more force than clear aligners, helping to move the teeth faster. This means if your teen has a more complex 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. For some teens, this can make it more difficult to diligently stick to a clear aligner treatment plan - forgetting to put their aligners back in after eating or forgetting where they put them down.
Braces are fixed to the teeth and can't be removed, so they can't get lost or forgotten. And their durability makes them difficult to damage - huge 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. But, 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 your teen can choose fun colours.
Braces at Meldrum Orthodontics
Traditional orthodontic braces use a system of brackets, elastic bands and wires to gently shift and straighten teeth over time.
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.