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 Invisalign for Teens near Hialeah
Pros and Cons of Invisalign and Braces
When deciding what type of corrective hardware is right for you or your child, you will likely have many questions. It is important to choose the most effective and affordable option, while still keeping comfort and practicality in mind. The two main choices when correcting crooked teeth and gaps are braces and Invisalign. Invisalign first became popular in the year 2000; while it is relatively new, it is also very popular and effective. You are probably aware of braces and how they work. Metal brackets are glued to teeth. Wires connect the brackets and are made stronger, shorter, and tighter throughout the process. Invisalign produces the same end result as braces but uses clear plastic aligners or “trays’ instead of metal brackets and wires. Plastic aligners are worn in a series. The teeth straighten throughout the process, getting more and more straight with each aligner. The plastic is BPA free and completely clear.
In order to decide which of these methods is better for you, it is best to compare the pros and cons of each. In terms of appearance, Invisalign definitely comes out on top. The aligners are clear and invisible, for the most part. While braces can be enamel colored or clear, they are always visible and usually are a silver metal that stands out against your enamel. Braces are worn for an average of two years and can never be removed. Invisalign is worn for 22 hours out of each day for 6-18 months on average.
When it comes to cost, braces range anywhere from $3,000 dollars to $7,000 dollars depending on many options and the appliances. Invisalign costs around $4000 to $8,000 dollars in most cases. When you wear braces, you have to brush your teeth often to avoid food getting caught in the wires. Sometimes a water pick is also helpful. Invisalign has its own cleaning system. Other than that, you have to brush your teeth often and rinse the trays with slightly warm water. When you wear braces, you have to visit the dentist once a month for tightening and checkups. Invisalign requires you to change aligners once every 2 weeks, but you only have to visit the dentist every 4 to 6 weeks. Retainers are required after treatment for both braces and Invisalign.
There are pros to both braces and Invisalign. With braces, more complicated teeth issues are able to be addressed. There is also no need for self-discipline, as you cannot remove the braces as you please. Invisalign is not noticeable. It is removable, so you do not have to worry about what you eat. Food is less likely to collect in your teeth and you will not have to deal with the pain from wires and brackets. The main drawbacks to braces are the pain and sores that wires and brackets cause. Foods you are able to eat are limited and teeth are often stained in an odd way due to the brackets. Despite having to remove the aligners when you eat and having to brush well before putting them back in, there are not many real cons to Invisalign.
If you are interested in Invisalign, contact us for more information on how we can help you to transform your teeth into a beautiful smile.