Orthodontic Consultations are free

Pediatric Dentistry

Teen Braces

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teen braces

We provide second phase (Phase II) teen braces as well as full comprehensive orthodontics for teenagers.

The best time to start full orthodontic treatment is when there are only a few primary (baby) teeth left. Age typically varies between 10-15 but most commonly 12-13. Orthodontic screening done earlier can help us predict tooth growth and plan the timing of treatment which is why we recommend it for all children at age 7.

Orthodontic treatment for teenagers is usually full (comprehensive) and is supposed to address all orthodontic concerns so that future treatment is rarely needed. Treatment time varies depending on the type of appliances used, treatment complexity, and patient cooperation. We would like to finish most of our cases in less than two years to minimize the discomfort and side effects of lengthy orthodontic treatment for straighter teeth.

There are different types of braces we can use for the dental care and oral health and of teenagers, which are listed below.

teen braces

Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces remain the most popular and most common treatment option in orthodontics. Over the years, metal braces have been improved to be smaller and more comfortable. They are still the most effective and most efficient braces treatment option. We offer different types of metal braces, including Damon braces and Nickel-free Titanium braces which are recommended for patients with a Nickel allergy.

Most importantly, you still get to choose different colors for your braces on every visit. Who said braces for teens aren’t cool?!

Types of Metal Braces

  • Orthos (traditional Stainless Steel with colors)
  • Orthos Titanium (Nickel-free for patients with metal allergies)
  • Damon Q2 (the Damon system can be more efficient in certain cases)
Photo of a patient needing braces pain relief and showing off their brackets.

Clear (Ceramic) Braces

Ceramic braces offer a less visible option than traditional braces. They are see-through and barely show once cemented to your teeth. The wires we use, however, are made of metal and will still be visible. Nonetheless, many of our patients who had ceramic braces have told us that their friends had told them they did not even notice they had braces on!

Types of Ceramic Braces

  • Symetri Clear Braces
  • Damon Clear Braces

InvisalignⓇ

InvisalignⓇ utilizes clear removable plastic aligners that can be used instead of braces. The InvisalignⓇ system has been improved substantially over the years and can be used to treat most cases successfully and effectively.

The process starts with a free consultation, during which we scan your teeth using our amazing iTero 3D scanner at our office in Clarendon Hills, IL. In a matter of minutes, you get to see what your teen’s teeth would like after treatment! Using specialized, highly sophisticated software, the doctor will design a treatment plan to achieve your treatment goals.

Once the aligners are made, we will teach you how to wear them and care for them. Each set is worn for one week, and your visits to our office are typically once every 8 weeks. Once the Invisalign treatment is done, your teen’s teeth are polished, and retainers are used to maintain your teen’s healthy smile.

Advantages of InvisalignⓇ over braces

  • Virtually invisible
  • Less pain and discomfort
  • Less emergencies (no broken metal brackets or poking wires!)
  • No food restrictions

Appliances

Oftentimes, braces are not sufficient to address certain orthodontic problems. This is when additional appliances may be recommended/used to achieve optimum results for your teen’s dental health. We try to keep appliance use to a minimum to reduce discomfort and emergencies during treatment. A thorough demonstration of any recommended appliance(s) will be done during your teen’s smile consultation.

Appliances commonly used in our practice

  • Palatal expander (to widen upper teeth and jaw)
  • Space maintainers
  • Herbst appliance (for overbite correct)
  • Headgear (for overbite correction)
  • Facemask (for underbite correction)
  • Habit appliance (to stop thumb sucking)
  • Mouth guard (to protect teeth while playing sports)
  • Night guard (to protect teeth from grinding habits)
  • Functional appliances (to influence jaw growth)
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