For the past few decades, getting braces has been viewed as a rite of passage for many teenagers. However, as removable clear aligners have become increasingly popular, many teens are choosing to straighten their smiles with this method. While clear aligners may be the more cosmetically appealing orthodontic treatment, sometimes traditional braces are the best option for your teen. Here are four reasons why.
Braces Are Better for Complex Cases
Clear aligners can often fix minor orthodontic issues, like slightly crooked teeth or a small overbite. However, they’re not as effective as traditional braces for treating more complex cases. This is because aligners exert pressure on just the top parts of the teeth, while braces focus on shifting the entire tooth. Therefore, braces can correct a wider variety of problems, including overcrowded teeth, severely gapped teeth, and significant bite misalignment.
You Can’t Lose Braces
It can be all too easy for your teen to take their aligners out at lunch, set them on a napkin, and accidentally throw them away. If this happens, your teen will have to wait a few weeks for a new pair to be made, which can lengthen their treatment timeline. Because traditional braces are fixed onto the teeth, your teen won’t have to worry about misplacing them.
No Self-Discipline Required
Similarly, clear aligners require discipline. If your teen doesn’t wear them for at least 22 hours a day, their treatment could take much longer than originally planned. This is more likely if your teen plays sports (since they’d have to swap the aligners out for a mouthguard), plays a musical instrument, or tends to snack frequently. With traditional braces, your teen doesn’t need to give a second thought to their orthodontic treatment.
Braces Can Be Customized
While clear aligners are virtually invisible, it deprives your teen of an opportunity to express themselves. When they visit their dentist every few weeks to get their braces adjusted, they can pick out different colors for their brackets. They could choose a particular set of colors around a certain holiday, or they could show their school spirit by getting brackets featuring their school colors.
Even with all of the choices out there for straightening teeth, traditional braces are often the best choice for many teens. If your son or daughter is interested in having a straight smile, schedule an appointment with their dentist to find out which orthodontic treatment would benefit them the most.
About the Practice
Our team of dentists here at Texas Dentistry in Mesquite is committed to providing you and your family with a positive dental care experience. Drs. Anne Lindley, Thanh Tran, Yosuk Lee, and Victoria DeLeon are all members of key professional organizations, including the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. If you suspect that your teen needs braces, call our office at (972) 329-4200 or visit our website to learn more.