Curious about orthodontics for teens? Continue reading to learn more about when this type of treatment is recommended for teens. An orthodontist might recommend orthodontics for teens when teeth alignment issues are detected. They often recommend bringing children in for their first orthodontic evaluation by the time they reach the age of seven. Orthodontic issues can be detected at this stage, and their severity often determines whether immediate treatment is required. Issues like overbites, crossbites, and underbites are typically addressed early on before the child reaches their teenage years.
Orthodontists often advise starting teeth alignment treatments around the ages of 12 to 16. Children typically experience their most significant growth spurts during this period, making it easier to reshape their mouths and jaws with orthodontics for teens.
Here are some of the reasons why an orthodontist might recommend teeth straightening treatments for your teen:
At times, it is obvious when a teenager needs teeth straightening treatments. Their teeth look may look crooked, and that leads to poor aesthetics. It can also lead to the teen becoming self-conscious since people at that age tend to be quite focused on their appearance. The teen might become reluctant to interact with others due to fears about being judged about their appearance. This can hinder their social development and carry over into their adult years.
A teenager having difficulty breathing during the day or while they sleep can be a sign of a problem with their bite. Breathing issues are often caused by a person’s airways being blocked. Sleep apnea is also caused by a person’s airways being obstructed, and it forces their brain to wake them up multiple times during sleep to restart breathing.
Airway obstructions can be caused by a person’s jaw being too narrow. This, in turn, leads to their teeth not coming out in their proper alignment due to not having enough space on the jaw. An easy way to determine if a child has airway obstruction is by observing if they breathe primarily with their mouth. Waking up with a sore throat, dry mouth, and snoring are signs that a child’s airway is obstructed during sleep, forcing them to breathe through their mouth. Improving the teenager’s bite often helps to alleviate these issues.
Frequently sore gums or teeth can signify excessive stress being placed on a person’s teeth and gums. It might result from a person’s teeth being too crowded due to not having enough space on the jaw. The soreness usually worsens when the wisdom teeth start to emerge, pushing on the person’s already crowded teeth.
Orthodontic treatment can be used to realign the teenager’s teeth, so all their teeth have enough space to grow properly.
Getting your child orthodontic treatments by their teenage years often leads to more effective treatments and shorter treatment times. Contact our dental office today to schedule a consultation with an orthodontist.
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