It’s certainly not easy being a teen, as just about all adults remember. The teenage years are some of the most confusing in any person’s life, full of insecurities and questions about one’s self and trying to find ways to fit in socially.
But it’s far worse for teens without good smiles. When forming first impressions, teeth are one of the biggest factors. Teens with bad teeth or other dental issues can have a hard time making friends, faced increased bullying, and worse. Bad teeth can make already-difficult teenage years even more difficult.
That’s why it’s important to talk to your teen about their teeth and, if needed, start looking into Rancho Cucamonga orthodontics for solutions.
How Rancho Cucamonga Orthodontics Improve Teens’ Self-Image
Orthodontics is a topic a lot of teens don’t want to talk about, and it’s undoubtedly because to a lot of teens, “orthodontics” means “braces” or even more extreme forms of headgear. Decades of pop culture programming has made it seem like being a “brace face” is one of the worst fates possible for a budding teen.
Yet, statistically, around 75% of teens require some form of corrective dentistry! Orthodontic work is far from uncommon and can be far more discreet than traditional braces. Even if braces are called for, here’s what it boils down to: A year or two of discomfort, followed by having a better smile for a lifetime. It may be irritating in the short term, but it pays off.
The Invisalign Option
However, there’s now a much better solution, that can ease most of a teen’s worries while still helping them correct their teeth: Invisalign orthodontic appliances. As the name suggestions, Invisalign retainers are nearly invisible. They’re made of clear plastic and are custom-cut to fit each patient’s mouth. They can even be discretely removed when eating, brushing teeth, or doing anything else where a retainer would get in the way.
If Invisalign isn’t an option, there’s still another choice: Incognito braces. These are more like traditional braces, except they are fastened to the inside face of the teeth. Incognito braces can fix more severe issues that Invisalign cannot, while still avoiding the stigma of a “metal mouth.”
In short, there is a range of options for fixing a teen’s teeth – and improving their self-esteem immeasurably in the process. To learn more about Rancho Cucamonga orthodontics for teens, just contact us!
