For a teenager being told they need to wear braces, it can be the end of the world, you’ve just ruined their lives and it will never be the same for them again – or so it would seem to them. Reassuring your teenager that it’s important to get the right orthodontic treatment for giving your teen a healthy, beautiful smile in adulthood can be little concession to them.
So how can you help your teenager feel better about the braces they need to wear to give them a beautiful smile for when they are adults?
As a parent, you know that braces and orthodontic will be worth it in the end, but to convince your teenager of this can be challenging. There may be people around you or friends who have already had braces and had them off; use them as an example to your teenager.
Making your teenager aware of all the options of braces can go a long way to reassuring them that they don’t have to have a mouth full of metal. Modern braces can be made of clear materials and therefore less visible on your teeth than traditional metal braces – a clear preference for teenagers concerned about the look of braces when they smile.
The benefits of clear braces to straighten teeth and improve a patients overall appearance are exactly the same as traditional metal braces with the one exception of being invisible – a clear advantage.
For teenagers who follow celebrities every move on social media, using celebrity examples can often work to convince a teenager that braces will not ruin their lives. Celebrities who had braces as children can prove good example to show the long term benefits and even ultra-cool celebrities who as adults had braces such as Beyonce and 1D’s Niall Horan can be great examples. Justin Bieber even made a video about his Invisalign orthodontic treatment that has over 95,000 views on You Tube
Most likely your teenager will know someone who has brace who has complained to them about the pain of the braces treatment. Unfortunately, there can be some pain and discomfort associated with braces, especially when they are new and when they get adjusted.
There are many types of orthodontic braces treatments that involve a minimal amount of pain and at Norwest Orthodontics we use a variety of these treatments; only using what is the most suitable for your child. Custom orthodontics such as Damon braces, move your teeth with light forces, no longer using rubber O-rings (which is what causes a little discomfort). Other available treatments include invisalign; a treatment that involves the replacement of aligners and moves to straighten teeth at a gradual pace. Each of these braces options is great for children as the minimal amount of pain and discomfort is felt with these types of orthodontics braces.
For more information about the different types of braces for your teenager, please contact the team at Norwest Orthodontics on 9672 6113.
