Somewhere between a classmate showing up with braces and an offhand comment about crowded front teeth, most Grosse Pointe parents start wondering whether it’s time. Here’s the straightforward answer, along with everything that follows it.
Orthodontic treatment for teens means aligning the teeth and bite during adolescence using metal braces, clear braces, or clear aligners like Invisalign. Most teens start between ages 11 and 15, once most permanent teeth have come in and the jaws are still actively growing.
That growth window matters. While your teen’s jaw is developing, bite corrections often happen more efficiently than they would in adulthood, and our orthodontists can guide growth instead of working against it.
Teen treatment typically addresses:
- Crowding (teeth overlapping or twisted for lack of space)
- Spacing (gaps between teeth)
- Overbite (upper front teeth extending too far past the lower)
- Underbite (lower teeth sitting in front of the upper teeth)
- Crossbite (upper and lower teeth meeting unevenly side to side)
- Open bite (front teeth that don’t touch when the back teeth close)
At LakePointe Orthodontics, Dr. William Krieg, Dr. Brynn Jezdimir, and Dr. Richard Frenchi evaluate each Grosse Pointe teen individually before recommending anything. Some teens need a full course of braces. Others need a shorter, more focused plan. A few just need monitoring for another year.
How Does Teen Orthodontic Treatment Work?
Teen treatment follows a predictable process: a free consult and records, a personalized treatment plan, placement of braces or delivery of aligners, regular adjustments every 6 to 10 weeks, and retainers at the end. Most teens finish in 12 to 24 months, depending on how much the teeth and bite need to move.
Here’s what each step looks like in practice.
1. Free consult and records. Your teen gets a full exam, digital scans, and photos. No goopy impressions. We look at tooth position, bite relationship, jaw growth, and how many permanent teeth have erupted.
2. Personalized treatment plan. We walk you and your teen through the recommended appliance and an estimated timeline before anything begins. You’ll leave the visit knowing what to expect.
3. Braces placement or first aligners. Bonding braces usually takes about an hour and involves no drilling. Aligner patients receive their first set of trays along with wear instructions and a schedule for switching.
4. Progress visits every 6 to 10 weeks. Wires get adjusted, elastics get checked, and new aligner sets get handed off. With DentalMonitoring, your teen can also submit scans from a phone between visits, which cuts down on trips away from school and sports.
5. Retainers. Once teeth reach their final position, retainers hold them there. This part isn’t optional. Teeth naturally want to drift back, so consistent retainer wear protects everything your teen just accomplished.
Complex bites, impacted teeth, or cases needing significant jaw correction may run longer than 24 months. Simple alignment cases sometimes wrap up in under a year.
Benefits of Treating Orthodontic Issues During the Teen Years
The teen years are a practical time to correct alignment, and not only for cosmetic reasons.
Why Does Jaw Growth Make This the Right Window?
Active jaw development lets our team correct bite relationships that become much harder to change once growth finishes. Guiding a jaw that’s still forming is a different task than moving teeth around a jaw that has already set. That’s why our orthodontists watch growth patterns closely and time treatment to match your teen specifically, rather than defaulting to a set age on a calendar.
Does Straighter Alignment Really Make Cleaning Easier?
Yes, and the difference is noticeable. Straight teeth have fewer tight overlaps where plaque hides, which lowers the risk of decay and gum inflammation over the long term. Crowded lower front teeth are the usual trouble spot, since floss barely fits between them. Once those teeth are aligned, brushing and flossing take less effort and accomplish more, and that payoff continues for decades.
A few more advantages worth knowing about:
- Less wear and strain. An uneven bite concentrates force on a few teeth, leading to abnormal wear, chipping, and jaw muscle fatigue. Even distribution protects enamel.
- Better function. Chewing gets more comfortable for many teens. Some notice clearer speech, and correcting certain bite patterns can improve nasal breathing.
- Confidence during formative years. Middle school and high school are social pressure cookers. A smile your teen doesn’t hide changes how they show up in photos, presentations, and conversations.
- Teens adapt fast, faster than most parents expect. Brushing around brackets, tracking aligner wear, and remembering elastics all become routine within a couple of weeks.
One more benefit worth naming: scheduling. Treatment that finishes before graduation is far simpler than treatment squeezed around a college schedule or a first job.
Braces vs. Clear Braces vs. Invisalign for Teens
All three options move teeth effectively, and all three finish with a beautiful, healthy smile. Metal braces handle the widest range of cases, clear braces offer the same strength with far less visibility, and Invisalign swaps brackets for removable trays. The right choice depends on case complexity, your teen’s daily habits, and how visible they want treatment to be.
| Metal Braces | Clear Braces | Invisalign | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Visible metal brackets, colored elastics optional | Tooth-colored brackets that blend in | Nearly invisible aligners |
| Removable | No | No | Yes, for eating and brushing |
| Treatment scope | Works for nearly every case, including complex bites | Most mild to moderate cases | Many cases with attachments; some complex bites need braces |
| Hygiene | Brushing around brackets takes practice | Same as metal, plus stain awareness | Easiest, brush and floss normally |
| Discipline required | Low, they work around the clock | Low | High, 20 to 22 hours of daily wear |
| Food notes | Avoid hard and sticky foods | Avoid hard, sticky, and staining foods | Remove trays to eat anything |
Metal braces remain the most versatile choice. They’re strong and reliable for a perfect smile, they stay put, and they handle rotations, impacted teeth, and significant bite correction well.
Clear braces do the same heavy lifting while blending with the natural color of your teen’s teeth. They’re a favorite for older teens who want discretion but don’t want to manage removable trays. Dark sodas, berries, and tomato sauce can discolor the elastic ties between visits, so a stain-aware diet helps.
Invisalign is smooth, removable, and easy to clean around. Sports and wind instruments are simpler with aligners. The tradeoff is responsibility: trays only work when they’re in.
Compliance is usually the deciding factor. Many aligners include a wear indicator that fades with use, and remote monitoring lets our team see whether tracking is on schedule instead of guessing. If your teen struggles to keep track of a retainer or a phone charger, braces may be the calmer path.
Is Your Teen Ready for Orthodontic Treatment?
Some Grosse Pointe teens are clearly ready. Others benefit from waiting a few months. Use these signs and readiness markers to see where your teen stands.
Signs worth an evaluation:
- Teeth crowding, overlapping, or twisting as they come in
- Noticeable gaps between teeth
- Front teeth that protrude or don’t meet when biting
- Difficulty biting into food or chewing comfortably
- Jaws that shift or click when opening and closing
- Mouth breathing or persistent thumb habits
Readiness markers we look for:
- Most permanent teeth have erupted
- Gums and enamel are healthy, with no active decay
- Consistent daily brushing and flossing habits
- Willingness to follow instructions on elastics or tray wear
Daily hygiene habits predict success more than anything else. A teen who already brushes twice a day without reminders will do fine with either option. Self-motivated teens who keep track of their belongings tend to thrive with aligners, while teens who need more structure often do better with braces that work without daily decisions.
Athletes and musicians need their own conversation. Contact sports call for a mouthguard over braces, and some wind instrument players find aligners easier during the adjustment period.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists (source: AAO patient guidance, aaoinfo.org), children should have a first orthodontic check-up by age seven. That early screening flags developing issues even when treatment won’t begin for another five or six years.
Why Grosse Pointe Families Choose LakePointe Orthodontics
Our practice has deep roots. Dr. William H. Krieg was the first orthodontist in St. Clair Shores, and that family legacy still shapes how we treat every Grosse Pointe teen who walks in.
- Board-level expertise. Our orthodontists are affiliated with the American Board of Orthodontics, and Dr. Brynn Jezdimir received the highest academic honors during dental school.
- Recognized care. Our team has earned Hour Detroit Top Dentist recognition.
- Aligner experience. We have the aligner case volume to know when trays are the right call and when they aren’t. LakePointe Orthodontics is a Platinum+ Invisalign Provider.
- Modern technology. State-of-the-art 3D imaging, digital scans, and DentalMonitoring keep treatment precise and visits efficient.
- A community that matters to us. Loving others, excellence in orthodontics, and supporting our community guide everything we do, from our Smiles Change Lives partnership to our WAVE Project involvement.
- A fun, friendly, and caring team. Teens actually look forward to coming in. Parents notice that.
Your family’s smiles are our top priority, and we’re here to create smiles that last a lifetime.
If you’re weighing options for your Grosse Pointe teen, a free consult with Dr. Krieg, Dr. Jezdimir, or Dr. Frenchi is an easy, no-pressure place to start. Bring your questions, and we’ll bring the scans, the options, and a clear plan for what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Orthodontics
What is the best age for a teen to get braces?
Most teens begin treatment between ages 11 and 15, after the majority of permanent teeth have erupted but while the jaws are still growing. That combination makes bite correction more efficient. The right timing is individual, which is why an exam matters more than a birthday.
How long does teen orthodontic treatment take?
Most teens finish in 12 to 24 months. Mild alignment cases sometimes wrap up in under a year, while significant bite corrections can run longer. Consistent wear of elastics, aligners, and appliances is the biggest factor in staying on schedule.
Does getting braces hurt?
Placing braces doesn’t hurt. Your teen may feel general soreness and tenderness for a few days afterward as teeth begin to shift, and again briefly after adjustments. Soft foods, cool water, and over-the-counter relief handle it well. The feeling fades quickly, and most teens forget their braces are there within a week or two.
Can teens get Invisalign instead of braces?
Yes. Many teens are strong Invisalign candidates, especially for crowding, spacing, and mild to moderate bite issues. Success depends on wearing trays 20 to 22 hours a day. During the free consult, our orthodontists will tell you honestly whether aligners can achieve the same result as braces in your teen’s case.
Can my teen still play sports or a wind instrument with braces?
Absolutely. Athletes wear an orthodontic mouthguard designed to fit over brackets, which protects both the appliance and the lips. Wind instrument players usually need one to three weeks to adapt their embouchure, and wax over the brackets helps during that stretch. Some musicians prefer aligners since they can remove them for performances.
How often are orthodontic appointments needed?
Plan on a visit every 6 to 10 weeks for adjustments or new aligner sets. Visits are typically short. With DentalMonitoring, your teen scans at home between visits so our team can track progress remotely, which often means fewer trips out of the school day.
Will my teen need to wear a retainer afterward?
Yes, and this step deserves real attention. Teeth naturally drift over time, so retainers hold the new alignment in place. Most teens wear them full-time at first, then shift to nights only. Long-term nighttime wear is the reliable way to protect the result.
