Adolescent Treatment

Your child’s first trip to the dentist should take place no later than age 2, and his or her first trip to the orthodontist should happen by age 7. Going to the orthodontist at such an early age doesn’t necessarily mean that your child will begin treatment at this early age. You may find that no treatment is needed, or that your child needs to be monitored until a later age, at which time treatment will begin.

Orthodontic treatment is more normally associated with adolescents, but don’t worry. Braces don’t have the stigma that they once did. In fact, it’s possible that many of your teen’s friends and classmates wear retainers or braces.

Your adolescent may take a little while to get used to the way his or her braces look and feel. Some patients say they experience pain or discomfort from their braces, or after adjustments, but many report that they feel no pain at all. A tingling sensation and pressure is common, and sometimes, a non-aspirin, over-the-counter pain medication may be needed for a day or so.

Our adolescent patients with braces take part in all the school and extracurricular events in which they participated before braces. They play musical instruments, sing and join in sports. We do recommend a mouth guard for children who engage in sports, but otherwise, all your teen will need is a bit of mental adjustment and a little orthodontic wax to be comfortable and involved.