It’s easy to second-guess the timing when it comes to orthodontic treatment. Some kids have braces by middle school, others don’t start until high school. Every smile seems to follow its own timeline. You want to catch things early enough to make a difference, but not rush into something unnecessary.
That’s where Dr. Kovacs comes in. If you’ve been wondering whether your teen might need braces or clear aligners, Kovacs Orthodontics in Billings can help you sort through it.
Teens Are in the Sweet Spot for Treatment
Most orthodontic treatment happens during the early to mid-teen years. That’s not a coincidence. This stage of growth gives orthodontists the best window to step in and guide things into place while the jaw is still flexible. Permanent teeth have usually settled in by then, but the structure around them still has some wiggle room.
That combination is what allows treatments to stick. It’s easier to shift the bite and align the smile when the body isn’t fully locked into its adult form yet. Once that window closes, everything takes longer, and the discomfort tends to increase.
Some kids need earlier intervention, especially if they’re showing signs of severe crowding or jaw misalignment. For most teens, the 12 to 16 range is where things line up just right.
Braces vs Clear Aligners for Teens
You’re not just picking between two looks here. Braces and clear aligners work differently, and the best option depends on how your teen functions day to day.
Metal Braces
These still show up for a reason. They’re strong, consistent, and better suited for more complicated cases. Once they’re placed, they stay put. You don’t have to worry about your teen taking them out and forgetting to put them back in. That’s a big deal if follow-through isn’t their strong suit.
Brushing gets trickier, and food choices matter. Hard, crunchy, and sticky snacks are off the table for a while. If your child can follow a cleaning routine and deal with minor adjustments, metal braces get the job done.
Clear Aligners
This can work just as well, but only when your teen can keep up with it. The trays are removable, so they need to stay in for most of the day to work. Taking them out for snacks, meals, and brushing is easy. Remembering to put them back in every time isn’t always second nature.
If your teen is responsible, organized, and motivated by the idea of something more discreet, clear aligners could be a great fit. If not, you might spend more time reminding them than they spend wearing the clear aligners.
Dr. Kovacs can talk you through your options so the choice is grounded in how your teen lives, and not just what sounds good.
What Parents Can Do to Make It Easier
Some teens power through without much help. Others need a little more structure. Either way, these tips tend to make a difference:
- Keep wax around for days when wires are rubbing
- Pick up soft foods for the first few days after adjustments
- Add travel flossers and a toothbrush to their backpack
- Set reminders for brushing if routines slip
- Talk through the rough patches without overreacting
Why Wisdom Teeth Still Matter
Getting braces during the teen years can help make room for wisdom teeth down the line, but it doesn’t automatically mean those teeth will behave.
Once your teen starts treatment, Dr. Kovacs will keep an eye on how those molars are forming. If things start shifting or pushing in the wrong direction, he’ll catch it early. Sometimes they will need to come out, sometimes they’re fine where they are.
Either way, the goal is to avoid surprises later. You want the results from treatment to hold, and that means checking on anything that could throw off the alignment you worked so hard to fix.
If They Are Nervous About Getting Braces
Some teens don’t care at all. Others worry about how they’ll look, how much it will hurt, or how it might change their daily life. Instead of brushing it off, let them ask whatever they need to. Bring them to the consultation. Let them hear directly from someone who’s done this before. Dr. Kovacs has walked hundreds of families through this process, and he knows how to keep things real without turning it into a lecture.
Once treatment starts, most teens settle in fast. It becomes part of their normal, even if they grumble for a week or two.
Signs It Might Be Time to Book a Consult
Even if your teen hasn’t asked for braces, there are clues that something might be off:
- Teeth that stick out or overlap
- Gaps that aren’t closing on their own
- Clicking jaws or soreness when chewing
- Crowding that makes brushing harder
- Bottom teeth that bite behind or in front of the top ones
These aren’t emergencies, but they’re worth having checked out. Some teens only need minor tweaks. Others might need more detailed treatment. Either way, it helps to know what’s happening under the surface. Kovacs Orthodontics can provide clarity early, so you can stop guessing and start making choices that hold up long-term.
Don’t Skip the Retainer Talk
The work isn’t over when the brackets come off or the clear aligners run out. Retainers are what keep the results locked in place.
There are different types. Some are clear and removable, others are bonded behind the teeth. What matters most is that your teen wears them every day, as directed.
Skipping this step means losing ground. All the time, money, and effort that went into fixing their bite can start to slip. The retainer isn’t optional. It’s the thing that keeps everything from shifting right back.
How Long Will It Take?
The timeline of the treatment will depend on each case. Most treatments run anywhere from 12 to 24 months. Some are shorter. A few run longer. The timing is based on how the teeth respond and how consistent your teen is with appointments and care.
Missing visits or slacking on cleaning can slow things down, so can lost clear aligners or broken brackets. Staying on track makes a huge difference. Dr. Kovacs gives clear timelines based on how your teen’s teeth look right now, not a generic estimate.
Let the Results Speak for Themselves
Teens might not care about the science of tooth movement. They usually care about how they look in photos, how their bite feels when they chew, and how confident they feel when they speak. You don’t need to sell them on a perfect smile. Just help them stay focused on why it’s worth sticking with. Neither braces nor clear aligners are forever, but the impact lasts a long time.
Talk It Through with a Team That Gets It
If you’re thinking about braces or clear aligners for your teen, start with a consultation that looks at your child’s situation, not just a checklist of what’s “normal.”
Dr. Kovacs and the team at Kovacs Orthodontics in Billings take time to explain what’s working, what’s not, and what’s worth doing now instead of waiting.