Orthodontics for Teens | Braces OKC

Invest in Your Teen

The teen years (between the ages of 12 and 16) are the most common time for orthodontic treatment because most permanent teeth are in place.

At Farrow & Dewbre Orthodontics, we offer a variety of treatment options that won’t interfere with your teen’s busy schedule.

All About Teen Orthodontics

The teen years are a great age range for experienced orthodontists like Dr. Farrow and Dr. Dewbre to easily recognize spacing issues, crowding, and bite and alignment problems. Your teen’s bone and jaw structure are formed enough to allow orthodontic treatment to begin.

Some teens may have even started Phase I treatment at an earlier age and are now following it up with full braces or other orthodontic treatment.

Benefits of a Straight Smile

Straight teeth that respond well to orthodontic treatment have many benefits, including:

Less prone to wear and tear, chipping, and tooth trauma
Easier to keep clean, helping to prevent tooth decay and cavities
Improving proper chewing and digestion of food
Reducing the chances of developing gum disease, which can result in bone loss, decay, and tooth loss

Choose Your Look

While creating a customized treatment plan for your teen, your orthodontist might recommend an orthodontic appliance.

Here at Farrow & Dewbre Orthodontics, we offer:

Damon 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.

The good news is that we don't use this type of bulky orthodontic appliance. At Farrow & Dewbre Orthodontics, we use the Damon metal braces system to make your treatment more comfortable.

Ceramic Braces

Also known as clear braces, these work the same way metal braces do but feature brackets made of tooth-colored ceramic materials.

They blend in with your teen’s smile, so they’re much less obvious. Since ceramic braces may break slightly easier, and are a little more expensive than metal braces, so we may not recommend them for everyone.

Invisalign for Teens®

The Invisalign system is made up of a series of fully customized, clear trays called aligners. These aligners are nearly invisible totally removable, and comfortable to wear.

Made of soft plastic, aligners provide a more comfortable orthodontic experience, with no friction or abrasions inside your teen’s mouth.

Each week your teen will switch their aligner for the next in the set. When your teen wears the aligners for the 20-22 hours per day recommended by Dr. Farrow or Dr. Dewbre, their teeth will gradually move into the desired positions.

Invisalign works best for mild to moderate orthodontic issues, and may not be an option if your teen needs more severe correction.

Watch for Orthodontic Issues

Beyond outward appearances, untreated dental problems can have a lasting impact on your teen’s oral and overall health.

If you notice any of the following issues, we recommend a free consultation with Dr. Farrow or Dr. Dewbre, since they could be signs your teen may benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Early, late, or irregular loss of their baby teeth
Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
Difficulty with chewing or biting
Protruding teeth
Frequent biting of the cheek or the inside of the mouth
Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
Crowding or extra spacing between teeth
Jaws that shift or make sounds

Bad Bites

Diagnosing and successfully treating certain bite problems can have short-term and long-term benefits.

Problems classified as “bad bites” can often be minimized with the proper orthodontic treatment, including:

Missing or extra teeth
Crooked or crowded teeth
Incorrect jaw position
An overbite or underbite
A disorder of the jaw joint

FAQs About Teen Orthodontics

How long does treatment take?

Unfortunately, this is one question that doesn’t have a concrete answer. Every case is different, but the average length of the active stage of orthodontic treatment is anywhere from 6-36 months.

After this phase of treatment is complete, your teen will need to wear a retainer for as long as your doctor feels necessary based on their individual case. In many cases, we will recommend wearing a retainer at night indefinitely.

We work as a team with both parents and teen to create a smile that will last a lifetime.

Can teens still play sports?

Absolutely! Your teen can play any contact sport if they use the proper orthodontic mouthguard.

If your teen athlete is wearing traditional braces, it’s crucial to protect their smile to stay on track with their treatment.

We strongly recommend using an orthodontic mouthguard to protect their braces, and their mouth, from any potential injury.

If your teen has Invisalign, they can take their aligner out before practice or a game and put it back in afterward. We still recommend that Invisalign patients wear a protective mouthguard.

Does orthodontics interfere with playing an instrument in the band?

Make an Investment in Your Teen’s Smile

While adults can successfully complete orthodontic treatment, a teen’s jaws and teeth can respond quicker to orthodontic treatment, shortening their total treatment time.

Orthodontic treatment is an investment in your teen’s future. At your initial consultation, Dr. Farrow and Dr. Dewbre will be happy to discuss the benefits of treatment with both of you, as well as any of the risks with putting off or skipping treatment.