Orthodontic Treatment for Teenagers

For optimal results, we encourage our teenage patients to:

1. Stick to their care and maintenance regime. This includes wearing appliances and elastics as prescribed by your orthodontist. We also recommend maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing daily.
2. Appreciate that corrective treatment takes time, but the results are worth the effort.
3. Collaborate with your orthodontist, dentist, and parents or carers to achieve the best results. Working together with your healthcare team and loved ones will help you achieve the desired outcome. Remember to play an active role in your orthodontic treatment.
4. Be patient! Adhering to an orthodontic treatment plan takes patience and builds resilience. We’ve had many parents share stories of teens who’ve transformed more than their smiles. In many cases, their confidence and general outlook have improved.

Generally speaking, most orthodontic treatments take between 18 to 24 months. Your orthodontist will customise the length of treatment to fit the needs of your individual case. Generally speaking, the more complex orthodontic cases tend to take longer to achieve desired results. 

Your orthodontist will help you have the shortest treatment possible, even if your case is complex. They will work closely with you to achieve this goal. Your orthodontist will ensure that your treatment is efficient and effective.

Yes, clear and ceramic braces are available at MP Orthodontics. Unlike traditional metal braces, tooth-coloured braces provide a significantly less noticeable treatment for straightening teeth. For patients looking for an even more discreet way of improving their smiles, our orthodontists are experienced in Invisalign treatment.

Both braces and clear aligners will require a short period of adjustment. Most patients adapt quickly and find their orthodontics easy to live with.

Most foods are well tolerated and may require a small adjustment to how they are prepared. This ensures comfort and reduces the risk of damaging brackets and wires. You can cook foods like carrots to soften them, or cut them into sticks to reduce the effort and force needed to chew them.

Avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods since they are most likely to cause damage to brackets and wires. These include:

• Hard lollies and candy
• Chewy caramel and nougat
• Crunchy nuts
• Foods that are high in sugar

Yes, and depending on the sport or activity, your orthodontist may recommend a mouthguard. This is particularly important in contact sports. Teens undergoing Invisalign treatment can remove their clear aligners during sports

You can expect to visit your orthodontist every 4-8 weeks if you have braces. The frequency of your visits will depend on your individual case and treatment plan. Your orthodontist will determine how often you need to come in for adjustments.

During your visit, the orthodontist will adjust your braces. They will use elastics and wires to shift your teeth into the correct position. This process helps to keep your teeth moving in the right direction.

For clear aligners, you can expect to visit your orthodontist every 4 - 6 weeks. The appointment will ensure that you are progressing as planned. We can make any needed adjustments to your clear retainers during the appointment.