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 Miami Lakes
Are Kids Bullied Because of Their Smile?
No parent ever wants his or her child to experience bullying. Unfortunately, bullying is a reality for most children in America as 60% of children report seeing or experiencing bullying daily! Dosomething.org says that over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying in the United States each year.
What do bullies look for in their victims?
Did you know that when bullies choose someone to bully, they have three main physical characteristics that they look for to determine their victim:
- Teeth
- Strength (physical strength and appearance)
- Weight
Teeth are the #1 targeted physical feature that will increase a child’s chance of getting bullied. Parents should be proactive in helping ensure that their kids’ teeth are healthy by teaching them the importance of good oral hygiene and taking their children to see a dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings.
Five tips for parents that are concerned with bullying:
- Educate your children on the changes that are taking place with their teeth during childhood. Many kids lose their baby teeth and feel that they look weird or different. Have your dentist or orthodontist explain the process of the changes in their teeth to your children if you do not feel confident in your explanation.
- Show your kids your pictures or other family members when you lost your teeth or had braces. You are your kid’s hero, and if they see that you went through the same issues they are going through, this should make them feel better about themselves. If not, then Google search photos of some of their favorite actors or musicians and see if you can find some before and after pictures of their teeth and show them that even famous people had to go through the same changes as them.
- Take your child to see an orthodontist by the age of 7. The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) has determined that the age of 7 is the perfect age to take your child for their first visit to see an orthodontist. This will help you and your child listen to a specialist’s opinion and determine if your child’s teeth and jaw are developing correctly. Most children will not need treatment at the age of 7, but it will create peace of mind for you and your child. Also, if your child does need early interceptive treatment, this can often help them to correct issues that would have been much worse in the future. Not only can this potentially help with bullying but in many cases, this can also save the discomfort and expense of future surgeries or much worse long-term effects.
- Ask your orthodontist to show your child before and after photos of other kids with similar issues. This will reassure your child that they are not alone and that plenty of other kids went through the same thing that they are going through, which is reassuring and should boost confidence.
- If you suspect your child’s confidence and self-esteem are being affected by their smile/teeth, then try to speak to the orthodontist in private before your first visit with your child. Often, an orthodontist can help uncover issues that are not affecting your kid. Some of the significant signs that should be warning signs that your child may be the victim of being bullied or teased are over jetting of flaring teeth (bucked teeth), speech difficulties or a lisp, severe underbite or overbite, asymmetrical growth of the jaw (jaw is not growing in-line with the center of the face), as well as several other issues that can and should be diagnosed by an orthodontist. To choose the best Miami orthodontist for your child, visit the ABO website and look up the closest board-certified orthodontist in your area.