Growing into your smile

Orthodontic treatment is most common between age 11 and 15, and for good reasons. By 12, most permanent teeth have erupted and are in place, and crooked teeth, gaps and bad bites (malocclusions) are easily detected. These problems hardly ever correct themselves, so this is when most parents decide to seek orthodontic treatment. At this age, children are growing rapidly, and Dr. DuClos can usually take advantage of growth spurts to help shape the bite and teeth correctly.

Length of treatment depends on the complexity of the case, as well as variation in how each individual’s teeth respond to treatment.

Fortunately, it has become quite fashionable to wear braces as a teenager, which makes treatment at this time exciting for many of our patients.

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