If you have a teen who would benefit from getting braces, that’s probably something that has been a topic of conversation from time to time. Braces can be a great way to fix all sorts of problems with tooth and jaw alignment, but that doesn’t mean your teen wants to get them right now. More people are getting braces as adults, after all. So are there any advantages to getting braces as a teen instead of as an adult?
Addressing Speech Problems Earlier
Did you know that your teeth play a role in how you speak? This is because their placement impacts how your tongue and lips are positioned. All of that impacts how you enunciate your words. Braces can bring teeth into an ideal alignment that promotes clear speech. The sooner speech problems are corrected, the better off you’ll be. This is especially the case when you consider the impact that clear speech can have on employment opportunities.
Encouraging Healthy Facial Development
A person’s teeth and jaw influence facial development. This can impact things like self-image and sleep apnea. In the case of self-image, it can be difficult to feel good about how you look if you have a crooked jaw that leads to asymmetrical facial development. That’s sure to be rough on any teen or adult. The sooner that’s fixed, the better. The same goes for sleep apnea. Healthy facial development decreases the risk of sleep apnea due to poor jaw alignment, which could improve sleep quality. That’s something best addressed as soon as possible.
Allowing Faster, Easier Treatment
One of the other major advantages of getting braces as a teen is that teens tend to see results faster in comparison to adults. Teeth tend to be more willing to move during younger years, which leads to faster, easier treatment results. That isn’t to say that adults can’t see quality results from braces. They certainly can; it just tends to take longer.
As it turns out, timing can make a difference in the sort of experience someone has with braces. There are some advantages to getting them as a teen, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still work to get them as an adult. Everyone’s situation is different, and at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide what makes the most sense for you and your teen.
Here at Stellar Orthodontics, we believe that everyone should be able to afford the orthodontic treatment they need for a beautiful, healthy smile. That’s why we offer different financing options for our patients and their families. Click here to learn more today!