At Young Orthodontics, we know image is everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having braces may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. Well, May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, and during this time, parents are encouraged to act as positive role models, help stop negative self-images, and improve confidence and security among teenagers.

One of the great ways to improve your confidence is to improve your smile. And that begins with a consultation at Young Orthodontics. After all, what better time to avoid having crooked teeth in your adulthood than coming in for a consultation with Dr. Andrew Young?

We invite you to give us a call to schedule a consultation or ask us on Facebook!

When you get braces at Dr. Andrew Young there are a few things you’ll have to adjust to get optimal results in the shortest amount of time. If you have any questions about the “do’s and don’ts” of living with braces, feel free to ask Young Orthodontics or any member of our staff during your next adjustment!

Eating

When you have braces, there are a few types of food that can damage your brackets and bend your wires, leading to more appointments and longer treatment times. By simply avoiding sticky, chewy, crunchy, and hard foods, as well as foods that require biting into like corn on the cob, your orthodontic experience will be much easier.

Cleaning

You’ll never believe the amount of food that can get stuck between your braces when you eat. In addition to causing bad breath and tooth decay, it looks pretty gross, too. It’s so important to brush your teeth after every meal and floss every day, and even though it’s kind of a hassle, it’ll all be worth it in the end.

Sports

Protecting your smile if you play sports is essential when you have braces. Mouthguards help protect your teeth and gums from injury. Young Orthodontics can create a custom mouthguard just for you if you plan on participating in any kind of contact sport or you can purchase an adjustable mouthguard at the front desk and the doctors will be happy to mold it to your mouth.

Great question, thank you. Dr. Andrew Young will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, suggest it could be a good idea to start early. The AAO recommends visiting the orthodontist around age seven.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment at Young Orthodontics begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Young to assess what the best age and course of treatment is.

We hope this helps! Please give us a call if you have any questions about your or your child’s orthodontic treatment! Contact our Olathe orthodontic office or our Spring Hill location today to schedule an appointment. We offer convenient hours Monday through Friday. We hope you’ll visit us soon!

Great question! Dr. Andrew Young will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened at our convenient Olathe or Spring Hill office no later than age seven for Dr. Young to assess what the best age for treatment is.

We hope this helps! We invite you to give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment and have yourself a relaxing and wonderful weekend!

You may also ask Dr. Young on Facebook!