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What Are Some of the Challenges Faced by Teenagers?
Dental care matters at all stages of life, but challenges can arise during the teenage years. These challenges can develop due to:
- Busy schedules accommodating school and after-school activities can make it challenging to stick to a regular brushing routine.
- Wearing braces or aligners requires additional dedication to oral care. Fixed braces need dietary modifications, and special tools are needed to clean around them thoroughly.
- A busy lifestyle can mean reaching for sugary and acidic snacks and beverages to help keep up energy levels.
- Dental injuries due to sporting activities.
Common Dental Concerns for Teenagers
The above challenges can translate into the following concerns for teenagers.
Preventive and Hygiene Issues
Without a proper oral care routine, the risk of dental problems can increase. These may include:
- Enamel erosion and cavities due to a high sugar or more acidic diet.
- Dental plaque and tartar buildup due to poor brushing habits.
- Early signs of gum inflammation (gingivitis) that, without treatment, can worsen into gum disease.
Orthodontic Concerns
At this age, many teens will have crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth or other more serious bite issues. Some teens may already be wearing braces, retainers, or other orthodontic appliances. These can bring their own concerns if they aren’t cared for properly.
Lifestyle and Aesthetic Concerns
Teens are often self-conscious about the appearance of their teeth, especially if they have sports-related injuries or chipped teeth.
How We Can Help
NYC Dentistry Center offers a personalized treatment plan tailored to each individual. These are customized for age, gender, and any specific oral health or overall health concerns. When your teen visits our dental office, we can ensure they receive the right dental plan tailored to their unique oral health needs.
We offer a comprehensive range of services designed to ensure your teen enjoys the best oral health. These services include the following.
Preventive Dentistry
Preventive dentistry is especially important for teens, as proper oral care now can help them maintain healthy gums and teeth for a lifetime. Our treatments include:
- Regular checkups and hygiene appointments.
- Fluoride treatments and dental sealants to help prevent tooth decay.
- Oral hygiene coaching and nutritional advice, to ensure your teen knows how to look after their teeth and gums and is aware of the impact of their dietary choices on dental health.
Orthodontic Care
We carefully monitor the growth of a child’s teeth and jawbone. Orthodontic care can help guide the growth of facial bones, create a more aesthetically pleasing profile, and ensure there is sufficient room for adult teeth to erupt.
If your teen needs braces, we can offer a complete range of options, including:
- Metal braces.
- Clear braces.
- Invisalign clear aligners.
- Retainers.
Restorative Treatments
When teeth have become chipped due to trauma, or if your teen needs a small filling, we are here to help with treatments, including:
- Tooth colored fillings.
- Dental bonding for chipped teeth.
- Dental crowns for more severely damaged teeth.
Sports Injury Prevention & Night Guards
A custom-made sports mouthguard can go a long way in helping prevent or reduce the damage from an unwanted blow to the mouth. We can provide 3D-printed mouthguards that are comfortable, neutral-tasting, and odor-free.
Night guards can be useful for addressing issues such as clenching and grinding (bruxism). This is often a nocturnal habit that can be related to stress or other issues, such as a misaligned bite. We can work with you and your teen to help diagnose the reason for clenching and grinding. A night guard will help protect their teeth until this issue is resolved successfully.
Wisdom Teeth Evaluation
Wisdom teeth can erupt during the late teens, but we can monitor their position in the jawbone using digital dental x-rays. If necessary, we can arrange for their removal.
We also provide sedation dentistry to ensure that any oral surgery, such as wisdom tooth removal, is more comfortable and relaxing.
Dental Education
Dental education is extremely important, especially for teens, and this is where we can help by providing your teen with a trusted dental home.
We can encourage your teen to develop the right brushing and flossing techniques, particularly if they wear braces. We can discuss the dangers of smoking and vaping, and always encourage questions from teens and parents.
FAQs
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How Often Should Teens Visit the Dentist?
We will most likely recommend six-monthly dental exams and hygiene appointments, but this can vary. If your teen is more prone to cavities, we may recommend more frequent hygiene appointments.
At this stage, their teeth and facial bones are still growing and developing quite rapidly, so these regular visits allow us to monitor their growth and detect and treat any issues more quickly.
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When Should My Teen Get Braces?
Their orthodontist can determine the optimal age for treatment. Some children benefit from a two-stage process that combines early orthodontic care when they are younger with braces during their teenage years. Other children may not need to wear braces until they are in their tweens or teens.
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How Can Teens Prevent Cavities with Braces?
Excellent oral care while wearing braces is important for preventing cavities. Our hygiene team can work with your teen to ensure they learn how to clean their braces thoroughly, reducing the risk of cavities. We may also recommend more frequent hygiene appointments to maintain optimal oral health during orthodontic treatment.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th Street, 8th Floor, Suite 2
New York, NY 10017
(212) 810-9264