It can be difficult for a parent to watch their kids adjust to orthodontic treatment, especially if any obstacles arise. Rhoads Orthodontics understands that as a parent, your role in supporting your teen can make a big difference in their overall experience.. Let’s talk about how to best support your teen through their orthodontic treatment.
Why They Need Your Support
Teenagehood is already a period full of transition, so adding braces or Invisalign into the mix can bring on worries about appearance, discomfort, or how life will change during treatment. But when you offer support, your teen will feel empowered to face the challenge with more confidence. A parent’s active involvement can help with:
- Reducing anxiety around new appliances
- Encouraging positive oral hygiene habits
- Making it easier to stick with dietary restrictions via recipe research, cooking, and groceries
- Keeping track of appointments and routines like Invisalign wear
- Boosting their self-esteem during treatment
Ways You Can Help
You know your child best, so you might have additional ideas on how to support them during this process, but the following tips are great starting points to keep in mind.
- Stay Positive and Encouraging: Your attitude sets the tone. If you frame orthodontic treatment as an exciting step toward a great smile, your teen is more likely to embrace it with enthusiasm, regardless of their age.
- Help Build a Routine: Whether it’s with braces or clear aligners, consistency is fundamental to successful treatment. Encourage a daily routine that includes:
- Brushing and flossing thoroughly
- Cleaning aligners
- Wearing elastics as directed, if needed, with braces
- Make Eating Easier: If your teen has fixed braces, be mindful of meal planning. Try to put the fridge with softer foods after adjustment appointments and avoid sticky or hard snacks. For Invisalign wearers, support them in managing their aligner wear time with meals and snacks.
- Listen to Their Concerns: Treatment can feel overwhelming at times. Take the time to discuss any frustrations or concerns they may have, whether it’s soreness, self-consciousness, or school-related challenges. Just knowing you’re there helps them feel supported!
- Celebrate Progress: Don’t wait until treatment is over to cheer them on. Acknowledge their progress with kind words, before-and-after photos, or small celebrations after milestones like getting braces on, switching aligners, or finishing elastics.
- Partner With Us: Dr. Rhoads and our office team will always be available to support your family however we can. Sometimes, our roles as educators can go a long way in relieving anxiety and uncertainty. We are always committed to answering questions as they come along. For more information on orthodontic care and emergencies, please visit our website.
Answering Your Questions
Finally, we want to deep dive into three of the main questions parents have either ahead of or during their teen’s orthodontic treatment. As we mentioned, you can always contact us if you require further assistance.
Q: How long does treatment usually take?
The average orthodontic treatment with Dr. Rhoads typically lasts between 18 and 24 months, although this timeframe can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the patient’s adherence to instructions. For example, failure to wear rubber bands, skipping Invisalign wear, or missing appointments can cause delays. On the other hand, great oral hygiene and compliance can help keep treatment on track—and sometimes even speed it up.
Q: Will treatment be painful?
Discomfort is completely normal at the beginning of treatment and after adjustments to braces. They may feel pressure or soreness for a few days as the teeth begin to shift. Many patients will take over-the-counter pain relievers to help. That being said, patients should never experience acute pain with their appliance. Please call us right away if there’s ever any unusual discomfort.
Q: What happens after treatment ends?
In some ways, treatment doesn’t fully end—rather, the treatment goals change. After braces or clear aligners are removed, your teen will enter the retention phase, which is used to maintain the stability of the results. Your teenager will receive a retainer that they’ll wear as directed. Skipping retainer wear can cause teeth to shift back, so it’s essential to treat this phase as seriously as active treatment.
Making Every Day Count
It’s not unusual for a parent to walk into our office more nervous than their teenager! It’s totally understandable, and we want you to rest assured in the fact that our team is highly experienced. Our objective is not only to get you to a successful treatment outcome, but to make sure every step along the way is fully explained. Schedule your free consultation to visit us soon in our Cranberry Township office!