Teens Orthodontist | Orthodontics for Teenagers
Many parents and their teenagers get very anxious when they think of adding braces to adolescence’s emotional and physical roller coaster. Don’t worry! Orthodontic treatment is far less scary than you may think. We always begin with a complimentary evaluation with a board-certified orthodontic specialist, Dr. Carmen Briceño Crespi, and our fantastic staff. Once we identify a need for treatment, we explain in detail all of the options available to get you to your ideal smile. We then make a custom treatment plan and let you decide what style and type of treatment you want to choose.
At Lakes Orthodontics, we offer you the latest and “coolest” ways to straighten teeth and correct bite issues. Braces today are much smaller and less noticeable than in the past, and they come in various materials, styles, and colors.
Choose your style of braces:
Our practice offers a variety of orthodontic treatment options for our patients to choose from. Some common options include:
- Ceramic (clear) braces
- Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, and Invisalign Express.
- Traditional metal braces with or without colors (colors can be changed at each appointment).
Another common question is: “How long will I have to wear braces?”
At Lakes Orthodontics, we treat every patient based on their specific needs and preferences, and then we custom design a treatment plan to help them achieve their ideal smile!
The length of treatment time is dependent on three main factors:
What are the patient’s needs?
The amount of time it will take to correct a problem will determine the overall treatment length. Besides, each patient reacts to his or her treatment differently. After all, we are humans, not robots! Treatment times can vary based on how rapidly your body responds and how much work is necessary to give you the beautiful smile you deserve. An estimated treatment time is always given to each patient after Dr. Briceño Crespi studies and designs each patient’s specific treatment.
The Patient! The Teen!
Your willingness to follow Dr. Crespi’s instructions and use the appliances we give you greatly impacts the length of time it takes to complete treatment and results in your beautiful smile. It is always important to remember to take care of your braces and appliances; this will help make your treatment time faster and end with optimal results!
Make it to your appointments!
Teens are very busy and always have a lot going on in their lives between school, sports, social events, etc. Canceling their adjustment appointments for other activities will delay the length of treatment. Remember, Dr. Briceño Crespi plans out a custom-designed treatment plan for each patient that includes scheduled follow-up appointments to monitor, adjust, and advance her patient’s treatment. The average time between appointments is six weeks apart, and adjustments tend to take a half hour or less.
So, whether it appears or you think that your teenager needs orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign Teen or braces, the easiest way to find out is to make a free no, obligation consultation with the award-winning, board-certified Miami Lakes orthodontist Dr. Carmen Briceño Crespi. Call us at (305) 820-6800 or fill out the form below, and one of our smile specialists will contact you as indicated.
Here’s More Information Related to Braces Orthodontist for Teens in the Miami Lakes Area
Can You Prevent Your Child Needing Braces?
Children entering their early teen years often need braces to correct crooked teeth and other alignment issues. However, this doesn’t mean that braces are a rite of passage that everyone wants to go through.
The discomfort, cost, and self-consciousness that can come with traditional braces can be quite the deterrent. So, is there anything you can do to prevent your child from needing them? Depending on your child’s needs, some options and preventative measures could help them steer clear of metal braces. Read on to find out what they are.
Dental visits from early on can prevent braces.
Your child’s baby teeth will start to descend around the age of seven years old. This means that they will either start to fall out or shift in preparation for the adult teeth that will break through the gum line in the future. At this age, they must regularly see the dentist every six months to monitor their oral progress.
If your child will need future alignment correction for an overbite, underbite, misaligned teeth, or teeth with large spaces between them, it is best to find out as early as possible. If an issue is identified, it doesn’t mean your child will need braces immediately. In fact, it is very rare for braces to be put on a child this young. However, some steps can be taken as early as seven years old to fix alignment issues that may arise in the future.
For example, if your dentist can see that your child’s adult teeth will need more room to grow to prevent teeth from crowding or breaking through the gum line where they shouldn’t, they may recommend that a baby tooth be removed to give the permanent teeth the space they need. Alternatively, leaving baby teeth in place can also prevent future adult teeth from drifting into gaps that they shouldn’t. Taking preventative measures like this means that future braces can be avoided.
Each situation is specific and requires the expertise of a dental professional to determine the best course of action. Making sure your dentist knows your concerns and preference for avoiding braces will help them give you the best advice for your situation.
Straightening teeth without braces
Invisalign for teens Sometimes braces are not the best choice for you and your child, depending on the situation and your concerns. There are now teeth straightening options in addition to traditional metal braces that can help correct alignment issues. The Invisalign straightening system has proven to be very popular as it replaces metal wires with transparent plastic trays that gently push teeth into place over time. The teeth straightening trays are practically invisible, eliminating any concerns about braces’ cosmetic appearance. Invisalign also allows your child to eat, drink, and clean their teeth as normal since the straightening trays are easily removable.
If braces are unavoidable, why not upgrade them?
If your child does need traditional metal braces, some options can make them more appealing. No longer do braces come in just plain metal. An array of fun colors can be incorporated into the braces, which your child can pick to suit their personality. These colors can be changed every time they visit the dentist, making the experience much more pleasant. Studies show that over 75% of children who wear metal braces choose to have their favorite colors incorporated into them.
Lingual braces are another great alternative to traditional braces as they are placed behind the teeth. This means that they look and operate like traditional braces but are not visible. However, this type of alignment appliance can be higher in cost, so knowing what is most important to you when making decisions about your child’s oral health will determine the road you will take.
Finding an orthodontist who’s right for you
I’m an award-winning, board-certified orthodontist in Miami Lakes, offering expert orthodontic treatments like Invisalign, and braces, also known as tooth alignment for children, teens, and adults throughout Miami-Dade and Broward County.