Getting braces is great for a variety of different reasons, from straightening out the teeth to correcting one’s bite. Sometimes though, there’s such anxiety or concern about how they’ll look – especially teens, that they need a little more nudging. Here’s how you can convince your teen to receive braces:
Discuss with them what could happen if they don’t receive braces for their situation.
Different oral-related situations can contribute to other problems over time. Talking with your teen about the risks of not opting for the orthodontic treatment they need may convince them to get braces.
In some cases, jaw-related problems, wearing of the teeth, worsening tooth spacing or alignment over time, and a crooked bite that contributes to speech-related problems and difficulty chewing are often the result of not receiving the orthodontist treatment one requires. Yet, they are easy to resolve or avoid with the right treatment.
Show them the different types of braces options out there.
If your teen worries about the appearance of traditional braces, how they may look when they have braces, or are afraid of others teasing them, there are other braces alternatives out there. Make sure to make this clear to them.
Your teen may prefer one of the following types better. However, not every option below is applicable for every dental patient, so ask an orthodontist beforehand:
Invisalign or other clear aligners
Typically, bite or jaw problems cannot be corrected with clear aligners such as Invisalign. As well as this, extreme cases may not be able to be corrected through this method.
Clear aligners typically take longer than traditional braces to correct the treat and can be more expensive. However, because they’re virtually invisible and can be easily removed to eat, floss, and brush, they’re very convenient for a wide range of patients.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces look a lot like traditional metal braces except they offer less metal and are less visible. This is especially great for teens who don’t mind the slight visibility of braces but are a little shy with just how visible they are. Often times, this is the option patients turn to if clear aligners cannot be used for treatment.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces offer the metal traditional braces have to offer. However, instead of being placed on the outside of the teeth, they’re placed behind the teeth. This way, the braces are completely hidden from the outside and are usually only exposed on occassion like when one is talking.
For the less visible braces option, clear aligners are probably to best to go for in cases where a patient does not want the potential of metal to show. Although, these aligners still aren’t 100% invisible.
Nevertheless, be show pictures to your child of other teenagers wearing braces. Show them the various band color options they can choose from if they opt for traditional metal braces. This alone can give them something to look forward to with braces.
Find videos online of orthodontists applying braces to a patient’s teeth.
If your teen is afraid of the procedure itself or worries about possible pain, ensure to them that getting braces is not a painful process. Reassure them that they may feel pressure or tightness at first.
Be sure to show your teen a video online of an orthodontist applying braces to a patient, so they can see just how simplistic and pain-free the process is.
Afterward, the patient may have slight discomfort in their mouth. But this is nothing that can’t be corrected with a little over-the-counter pain medicine and/or orthodontic wax. Braces can be fairly easy to get used to, but for some, this adjustment is a little longer. But in the end, time will ensure the wearer of the braces won’t have issues with adjusting to life with braces.
