Teen Braces

Getting braces is often a teenage rite of passage. Some teens are excited about the prospect of a straighter, more attractive smile. Others, however, may be reluctant to get braces. They may be worried that the braces will interfere with sports or eating, or that they’ll be cumbersome and unattractive. When you get your braces through Molen Orthodontics, you’ll be able to choose options that will give you a great-looking, healthy smile, designed with the right combination of artistry and science.

Families and teens have been turning to us for years, because the treatment that you get from Molen Orthodontics is unlike treatment you will get anywhere else. We are dedicated to creating treatment plans for our clients that ensure their smiles are beautiful, wide, and natural looking—without headgear and usually without the extraction of adult teeth. Our doctors are also always staying up-to-date on the latest orthodontic technologies, and often teaching them to other orthodontists, so you can rest assured that your teen’s treatment will be as comfortable and fast as possible.

When Should Teens First See an Orthodontist?

If you’ve never had orthodontic care before, then the earlier you see us, the better. As a teenager, your facial bones are still growing and solidifying into their final position, and you may still have some of your baby teeth. Early orthodontic treatment can help prevent the need for more intrusive (or surgical) treatment down the road.

What are the Benefits of Teen Braces?

There are a lot of reasons why it’s important to see the experts at Molen Orthodontics at a young age. First of all, we can check your jaw, palate, and teeth with a thorough examination to make sure that everything is growing the way that it should.

Because your jaws and teeth are not yet completely “locked-in” to their adult positions, we are able to work with that growth and steer it in the right direction. What does this mean for you? It means that we still have an opportunity to guide your growth and obtain an amazing result without having to resort to jaw surgery or the extraction of healthy adult teeth. This means that we’ll be able to get you the great smile that you deserve using less invasive procedures. Plus, you’ll experience more stable results as your treatment corresponds with natural growth patterns, and it’s even possible that your treatment can take less time than it would later in life.

What Issues can Teen Braces Correct?

The team at Molen Orthodontics can correct a wide range of orthodontic issues. The exact scope and duration of the treatment required will depend on how severe and complex your case is.

Some of the issues we correct are:

Narrow dental arches, allowing for the development of a wider, more attractive smile that accommodates all your teeth.
Severe overbites or underbites.
Deep bites.
Small lower jaws or weak chins.
Excessive crowding.
Gummy smiles.
Protruding or flared teeth (buck teeth).
Airway problems like mouth breathing or snoring.
Crossbites (which should be corrected as soon as possible to avoid tooth or jaw damage).
See examples on our download.

What Does Treatment Involve?

At your first visit, we’ll do a thorough review of your facial skeleton and its alignment, your gums, your teeth, your airway, your bite pattern, and your jaw joints, and will enter them into our database. This will help us to customize your treatment and design a great-looking smile that works perfectly with your face and that properly supports your cheeks and lips.
You might be wondering what cheeks and lips have to do with orthodontics, and the answer is: A lot. If an orthodontist makes the profile of your teeth too flat and retruded, the teeth will no longer prop up the lips and cheeks, resulting in a slightly sunken, aged-look. And that’s probably not the look you’re going for. That is why at Molen Orthodontics, instead of just focusing on one-size-fits-all straighter teeth, we carefully design and customize your smile to complement your entire face, helping you look and feel your absolute best.
Once we’ve planned out your treatment and the desired results, we’ll help you choose what kind of braces will work best for you. We offer Damon braces, Damon clear braces, and Invisalign Teen, all of which are discreet and effective methods for designing your smile. After treatment, you’ll be fitted with a clear night time retainer to help keep your smile as perfect as the day we removed your braces. And don’t worry, we guarantee our retainers for life. This means if your retainer breaks, cracks, or wears out, we’ll replace it free of charge. And if you’re worried about losing your retainer (we all know someone who’s accidentally thrown theirs away after lunch), fear not! We’ll provide you a new one then as well – no questions asked!
We know how important it is for you to get a great smile, and our commitment to quality and attention to detail will result in you having a straight, dazzling, healthy Molen smile that will last a lifetime.