It’s not lost on our team at Johnston Orthodontics that being a teenager is… a lot. It’s a time when self-esteem is being shaped, and even small things can have a big impact, including your teen’s smile. Let’s talk about how orthodontics can make teens feel more confident and capable in their own skin.
What Does A Smile Mean to a Teenager?
Your teen’s smile is one of the first things people notice about them. Whether it’s in school photos, social media selfies, presentations in class, or conversations with friends, teenagers are constantly engaging with the world. When they feel self-conscious about their teeth, it can impact how they participate in it.
Here’s how orthodontic treatment can make a difference:
- Improved Confidence: Straightening teeth often makes teens feel more positive about their appearance, which reflects in how they speak, smile, and carry themselves throughout the day.
- Better Oral Hygiene Habits: Braces or aligners create awareness about dental care. This attention helps your teen build solid hygiene routines that will last for years to come.
- Social Comfort: Many teens report feeling less shy and more expressive in social settings after treatment is completed.
- Academic and Extracurricular Engagement: Confidence in their smile can encourage teens to participate more actively in presentations, auditions, or school events.
- Long-Term Positivity: Teens often worry about how they’ll look in college or at their first job. Treatment can help create a sense of comfort and optimism about the future.
- Support During a Time of Change: Orthodontic care provides a consistent, positive routine during an otherwise uncertain time, which can contribute to emotional balance and stability.
Understanding Health Benefits
Remember, orthodontic treatment is rarely ever done for aesthetic reasons alone. There’s almost always a functional advantage to treatment with Dr. Johnston, even if it’s not the primary reason for your visit. A well-aligned bite helps the teeth function the way they’re meant to.
- Reducing stress on the jaw and surrounding muscles can help decrease the risk of developing conditions like TMJ dysfunction, teeth grinding (bruxism), and chronic headaches.
- Straight teeth also reduce the likelihood of uneven wear, which can cause tooth fractures and long-term damage.
- A balanced bite helps with speech, chewing, and even reduces the risk of jaw discomfort down the road.
- When teeth are spaced correctly and not overcrowded, it’s easier for your teen to brush and floss effectively. This lowers the risk of cavities, gum disease, and plaque buildup, which can lead to bigger problems later on.
Flexible Scheduling Options
Many teenagers stay pretty busy between sports, jobs, and hanging out with friends. Our goal is to make orthodontic treatment seamlessly fit into all of this, without feeling like too much trouble. Here are a few of the ways we prioritize convenience at Johnston Orthodontics:
- Flexible scheduling with after-school and some weekend appointments, so your teen doesn’t have to miss class or extracurriculars
- Same-day starts to streamline the process and save extra trips
- Short, efficient visits that keep appointments quick without sacrificing quality
- Digital appointment reminders and personalized scheduling tools to stay on track even when the calendar is already full
- A friendly team that knows how to work well with teens and offer support
Common Questions
Finally, we’ll go over some lingering questions you and your teenager might have ahead of starting treatment.
Q: What’s the best age to start orthodontic treatment?
A: Many teens between the ages of 11 and 16 begin treatment with Dr. Johnston. This is when most permanent teeth have fully come in, but the jaw is still developing, making it an ideal window.
Q: Will braces or clear aligners hurt?
A: Some soreness is perfectly common at the beginning of treatment or after adjustments, but it’s usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief and doesn’t last too long.
Q: How long does treatment usually take?
A: Most teen treatments last between 12 and 24 months. However, every case is different and depends on the goals and the type of appliance we decide on.
Q: Can my teen still play sports or instruments with braces?
A: Yes! We can provide any additional instructions and protective gear, like mouthguards, to keep them safe and comfortable.
A Lifelong Impact
It’s true that we treat patients of all ages, from children to adults. But as we said, teenagers are kind of in the sweet spot for orthodontics, anatomically speaking. If your family is in the Baytown area, you’re welcome to visit us for a free consultation to learn about what your teen’s next steps could look like!