Typical orthodontic treatment for adolescents usually involves putting braces on the patients teeth. The braces straighten the permanent teeth and finish correctly aligning the patient’s jaw. By age 12, most, if not all, permanent teeth have erupted and are in place, which is when crooked teeth, gaps and bad bites can easily be detected. These problems will hardly ever correct themselves, so this is when most parents decide to seek orthodontic treatment for their children. If a patient has had a Phase I treatment, usually a second round of braces (after all of the permanent teeth have erupted) finishes the job.
For many teenagers, wearing braces is a part of life – an important part of life because a beautiful and healthy smile can boost one’s self-confidence.
Children at this age are growing rapidly, and orthodontists can usually take advantage of these growth spurts to help shape the bite and teeth correctly. Pre-teens and teenagers have high metabolisms, which can help shorten overall treatment time and reduce the discomfort of orthodontic treatment.