Braces for Teenagers
Having a straight, healthy smile could help to improve your teenager's quality of life – the team at Coquitlam Family Orthodontics can help.
If you’re a teenager who needs braces, you probably have a lot of questions – especially about the impact braces might have on your daily life. You'll find some of the answers to your questions here!
How long will my treatment last?
This is easily the most common question we're asked. Unfortunately, there's no one answer. Depending on the person, and the extent of the problem we're dealing with, treatment can take anywhere from 9 months to 5 years. Most of the time, though, it lasts between 12 to 24 months.
How long you wind up wearing your braces depends on several different factors, some of which are in your control! These factors include:
- The problems being corrected - To some degree, the duration of your treatment depends on the position of your teeth and the extent of the malocclusion. Everyone is different, and some people’s treatment just takes a bit longer.
- If you’ve had treatment in the past - Some teens have already undergone early interceptive treatment when they were little. If you had Phase I treatment as a child, then you’ll have a bit of a head start!
- How you care for your teeth and braces - Taking care of your teeth and orthodontic appliances can make a significant difference in the duration of your treatment. This includes regular brushing and flossing, appliance maintenance, and wearing your appliances as directed.
Can I still eat normal food?
While you're wearing your braces, you’ll be able to eat most of the foods you normally do, with some exceptions. For the most part, try to avoid the following:
- Chewy/sticky foods - gummy bears, taffy, gum, caramels
- Hard foods - hard pretzels, nuts, chips, hard candy
- Foods that you bite into - corn on the cob, apples, carrots, celery
What does Phase II Treatment involve?
Comprehensive (Phase II) treatment involves a full set of braces that are applied when all of the permanent teeth have erupted. This usually happens between the ages of 11 and 13.
What are my options?
Orthodontic treatment has gone through a lot of changes over the years. Today, you don’t have to worry about setting off any metal detectors, and there's a bigger variety of treatment options to choose from.
In-Ovation® System Braces - In-Ovation is a new orthodontic system that may be able to straighten your smile more quickly than traditional braces, and without the need for bulky, difficult to clean, ties or elastics.
Coloured Braces - Now that you've accepted that you'll be wearing braces for quite a while, why not have a little fun with them? With a wide selection of coloured elastics, you can customize and personalize your smile.
Invisalign® Teen - Invisalign clear, customized, removable aligners straighten your teeth without wires and brackets. Invisalign is virtually undetectable, so hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth.
