Your Teen's Smile Is Worth It
Dr. Barnes is able to easily recognize issues with spacing, crowding, bite, and alignment in teens and recommend appropriate orthodontic treatment to start shaping a healthy smile.
Signs Your Teen Needs Treatment
Beyond outward appearances, untreated dental problems can have a lasting impact on your teen’s oral health. If you notice any of the following problems, visit Dr. Barnes for a complimentary consultation to determine whether or not they need orthodontic treatment.
- Early, late, or irregular loss of their baby teeth
- Difficulty with chewing or biting
- Crowding or extra spacing between teeth
- Jaws that shift or make sounds
- Frequent biting of the cheek or the inside of the mouth
- Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
- Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
- Protrusion of teeth
Bite Problems
Diagnosing and treating certain bite problems can have short-term and long-term benefits. Plus, problems classified as “bad bites” can often be minimized with the proper orthodontic treatment, including:
- Crooked or crowded teeth
- Missing or extra teeth
- An overbite or underbite
- Incorrect jaw position
- A disorder of the jaw joint
The Benefits of a Straight Smile
- You'll be less prone to wear and tear, chipping, and tooth trauma
- It'll be easier to keep your teeth clean, which helps prevent tooth decay and cavities
- Your chances of gum disease, which can result in bone loss, decay, and tooth loss, is lessened
- You can benefit from improving your ability to chew and digest your food
Our Orthodontic Options
While creating a customized treatment plan for your teen, we might recommend an orthodontic appliance.
Metal Braces
Braces have come a very long way, even within the past decade. When many people think of braces, they think of extremely bulky metal brackets. We don't use this type of bulky orthodontic appliance anymore, and many of the new braces are lighter and more comfortable than ever before.
Ceramic Braces
Also known as clear braces, these work the same way metal braces do they feature brackets made of tooth-colored ceramic materials that blend in with your teen’s smile.
Invisalign®
The Invisalign system consists of a series of fully customized, clear trays called aligners. These aligners are nearly invisible and totally removable. Each week your teen will switch their aligner for the next in the set. When worn the recommended 20-22 hours per day, your teen’s teeth will gradually move into the desired positions.