For Teens
Orthodontics for Teens
Braces, retainers, and everything else you want to know about orthodontics.
Braces, What now?
Don't worry, Braces aren't nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, braces today come in a variety of styles, materials, and colors, making life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past.
How long will I have to wear braces?
The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with braces depends on a few factors:
- Early treatment — Early treatment allows orthodontists to monitor the growth of the jaws and the development of the teeth. It allows the orthodontist to intervene when certain problems are starting to develop rather than wait until the problem may have caused severe damage. Not everybody needs early orthodontic treatment. In some cases it may be recommended that a patient waits until they are older and all of their permanent teeth have erupted before starting full braces treatment.
- The type of malocclusion (In other words the type of "bite problem" the patient has)— The amount of time needed to correct a mild problem will be less than the time needed to correct a more severe problem. In addition, Not all patients respond to treatment the same way. While it may take one patient only 12 months to complete their treatment, it may take another patient 24 months. Treatment times can vary depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the show-stopping smile you expect.
- Patient Compliance — This is a very important factor during orthodontic treatment. Your willingness to use the appliances and to follow all the instructions your orthodontist gives you plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always remember to take care of your braces and appliances and to keep all scheduled appointments. These will truly help make your treatment time shorter!
