Clear braces for teens are recommended when a dentist notices that your child is developing teeth or jaw alignment issues. The American Association of Orthodontists advises taking your child for orthodontic assessment once they reach the age of 7.
At this point, their smile should be fully developed and developing issues can be detected. Appliances like clear braces can be used to straighten a child’s teeth once their 12-year-old molars have erupted. At this stage, the child’s jaw and facial structures are still developing, making it easier to push their teeth in the right direction.
Metal braces have been the standard for teeth-straightening treatments, and they have been used for centuries. They are durable appliances that improve teeth alignment by pushing the wearer’s teeth into a better position.
Traditional metal braces are made up of metal brackets that are cemented to the patient’s teeth and metal wires that connect these brackets. Tightening the wires increases the force applied to the wearer’s teeth.
Metal braces remain the most effective way to straighten teeth, but they have poor aesthetics. Given how self-conscious teenagers can be, dentists often recommend subtler teeth-straightening treatments.
Clear braces for teeth are just like metal braces, with two main exceptions. The metal brackets are exchanged for clear or tooth-colored ones, and the metal wires are replaced with transparent ones. This gives the patient an oral appliance that can barely be noticed when they smile.
Aligner trays are another discreet way that a teenager can straighten their teeth, but these are removable devices that need to be worn for at least 20 hours a day. Keeping up with them over the course of treatment, which can be as long as two years, is a tall order for anyone, especially a teenager with a million things to do. Not wearing aligner trays as recommended diminishes their effectiveness.
The brackets used for clear braces are usually made with ceramics, so they are not as durable as the brackets that make up metal braces. They cannot be moved once cemented to the patient’s teeth, and wires connect the brackets on a dental arch to apply force on the patient’s teeth. If the teen has bite issues, rubber bands might be attached to connect brackets so the patient’s bottom teeth and lower jaw are pushed into the proper alignment.
Do you think that your teenager needs teeth-straightening treatments? Call or visit our Brea clinic to set up an appointment with our orthodontist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.breapediatricdentists.com or call Brea Pediatric Dental Practice and Orthodontics at (714) 782-0215 for an appointment in our Brea office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Clear Braces in Brea, CA.
Pediatric dentistry stresses the importance of keeping your child's teeth clean from birth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that parents clean their baby's teeth as soon as they erupt, as tooth decay can start as soon as teeth come in.Use a soft, wet cloth or a very small, soft-bristled toothbrush to clean baby…
Pediatric dental professionals love a healthy set of teeth, especially when those teeth belong to their patients. There is a sense of pride that a pediatric dentist feels when these young patients grow into young adults with good teeth and great oral habits. From a young age, a child should learn how to take care…
Your child should see a pediatric dentist at an early age, ideally when they start to teeth. The aim is to have the dentist track the growth and development of their entire oral cavity. Regular visits enable the kids’ dentist to monitor the child as they hit different developmental milestones. The dentist also gets to…
Looking into your pediatric dentistry options? Parents can choose the type of dentist they want to take their child to, with general dentists, family dentists and pediatric dentists being the main three choices. Since children should be seen by a dentist by the time they reach the age of 12 months, making a decision as…