According to information provided by Humana, more than 4 million people in the United States wear orthodontic braces, and about 75% wear braces for teens. The America Association of Orthodontics recommends screening children for the need for braces starting at around 7 years old and monitor ingthe situation until they are about 12 years old. There are several reasons a young adult may need to consider braces.
People typically assume the only reason to have braces is to straighten teeth and create a prettier smile, but there are several other reasons they may be recommended for teenagers.
Children and those in their early teens still have active bone growth happening in their bodies and heal quickly. As the bones in the jaw are growing, the dentist may be able to better position the braces, meaning better alignment results in a shorter amount of time. Often, people who do not get braces until their late teens or their 20s find out that their misalignment issues are more complex and that there will probably be a longer and more difficult treatment period.
The need to correct an underbite or overbite is often the most common reason for braces for teens. Many teenagers have slight overbites that do not seem like a big deal. However, if the overbite is noticeable, it may lead to confidence issues and could become a larger aesthetic problem as the teen enters into adulthood. Additionally, if the overbite is severe, it can lead to sore teeth, jaw pain, problems with chewing, and even breathing problems. Underbites are less common but could present the same problems. Braces help to straighten the teeth and correct bite problems to ensure teens have more confidence and fewer issues with chewing and speaking.
Some people do not grow as many adult teeth as they are supposed to. For many people, the lack of adult teeth is not very noticeable and does not cause an issue. However, if the adult teeth that do not grow in are in a place that shows when smiling, the smaller baby teeth that remain could look out of place and leave a teenager feeling self-conscious. In addition, the remaining baby teeth do not function as well as the surrounding adult teeth, which can cause problems with chewing.
Furthermore, baby teeth are not meant to last a lifetime. Eventually, they will no longer be functional. When a teenager is missing adult teeth, braces can help to move the ones that did come in into the right places so that dental implants can replace the baby teeth and add a lifetime of functionality for the future.
If you have a pre-teen or teenager who you believe may benefit from braces, talk to your dentist. A dental professional can provide more information and explain your options for braces for teens.
Request an appointment here: https://www.belairdentalassociates.com or call Belair Dental Associates at (706) 426-5520 for an appointment in our Evans office.
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