Helping and empowering your teenager to take control of their dental health so they can reap the rewards for years to come is important. This period is dynamic for many young adults, with changes happening to their bodies and personalities. As a result, ensuring that their smiles remain in good condition can do wonders for their self-esteem.
At our local dental clinic, we offer dental care customized to every teenager and their unique requirements. So, whether they’re interested in straightening their teeth discretely, brightening up their smile, or addressing hygiene issues, our dentists in Millwoods can help. Pick an appointment time by calling us today.
Looking Closer
Like children and adults, teenagers are just as susceptible to cavity build-up, bad breath, and tooth stains due to the range of snacks and treats they eat, namely those containing sugar and acids. This is why exposing your teen to trustworthy professionals who can guide them on their smile journey is so essential. Make sure that your words and actions line up; in other words, be sure to look after your own hygiene. Modelling good practices will reinforce responsibility for your teen.
If you or your teen have any questions or concerns, speak with a dentist near you.
Common Dental Issues and Treatments
Teens can experience a variety of dental health issues, including, but not limited to, those noted below:
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Misaligned Teeth
Here in Millwoods, dentistry for teens frequently entails orthodontic care. Many young adults feel self-conscious about how they look, and this applies to their smiles. Misaligned teeth make it difficult to bite and chew, as well as speak clearly and freely. Last, but certainly not the least, straight teeth help improve their self-esteem and self confidence by improving their smile.
Treatment: Clear aligner treatment using either SureSmile or Invisalign is the most popular treatments provided for teenagers wishing to straighten their teeth discretely. Not only can this improve the uniformity of their teeth, but their function as well. Teenagers are great candidates for orthodontics because all their baby teeth have come out and their bodies are still going through changes that allow their teeth to be adjusted a bit easier than an adult’s.
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Wisdom Teeth
The emergence of wisdom teeth typically occurs between the ages of 17 and 21; sometimes, patients are as old as 25 or 26. These “third molars” are said to appear when one is gaining “wisdom” of their own. For many, these teeth don’t fit comfortably in their mouths, leading to impaction, crowding, altered bite patterns, and mouth pain.
Treatment: Tooth extraction is the best treatment for wisdom teeth. Dentists at Agape Dental offer wisdom teeth extraction treatment. They will have your teen come in for an examination to accurately plan the procedure. Once they have been removed, instructions are given to your teen to help them care for their new smiles and ensure their oral cavity heals properly.
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Smoking
Teenage years are a time when many of them experiment and try new things, and smoking is certainly one such activity. It is no surprise that tobacco can cause multiple dental issues alongside stained teeth and bad breath, like dulled taste buds, gum disease, and oral cancer.
Treatment: The first step is to visit a dentist to learn more about dentistry for teenagers in Millwoods. The dentist will recommend appropriate action based on the severity of the situation. Treatment options may include cosmetic teeth whitening, scaling and root planning, or routine oral cancer screenings.
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Piercings
Another popular avenue teens like to explore is piercing. Tongue and lip piercings, while trendy, can be a problem to your teen’s oral health. Thousands of bacteria can gather around this jewelry, especially if your teen doesn’t engage in daily hygiene. This can lead to infection and swelling around the piercing site.
Treatment: If possible, piercings should be removed while sleeping to avoid involuntarily biting down on it and cracking a tooth or two. To ensure that the piercing site heals, and continual bleeding or blood poisoning doesn’t happen, patients should visit a professional piercer with the right qualifications and values cleanliness. And, if oral trauma should happen, visit an emergency dental clinic right away.
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Eating Disorders
Mental, physical, and dental health go hand in hand. Unfortunately, many young people suffer from an eating disorder, which, in turn, can cause damage to their smiles. Patients who do not consume enough nutrients and minerals through a balanced diet can experience bleeding and inflamed gums, mouth ulcers, enamel erosion, and cracked lips.
Treatment: As is the case with many mental health disorders, long-term care from doctors and dentists is needed. Depending on the details of a patient’s case, dentists can provide customized hygiene practices to achieve a cleaner, stronger mouth, perform restorative dentistry, and offer nutritional guidance. Booking frequent appointments will help your teen’s dental team stay on top of things.
Agape Dental Clinic: Your Teen’s Dental Ally
If you’ve been searching for a trustworthy, friendly clinic that provides comprehensive and gentle dentistry for teens near you, don’t wait to come into Agape Dental today. Our experienced staff is here for you and your family however you need. No issue is too big or small; we guarantee your teen’s smile will be beautiful and healthy.
Call 780-465-1211 or go to our website https://agapedental.ca to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists.
