Treatment for Teens (Ages 11-19)

Clear Aligners: Invisalign and Angel Aligner

For teens who need more than a minor correction, aligners is usually our top recommendation. Aligners are clear and removable, which many teens prefer for photos, sports, and everyday confidence. Because there are no wires or brackets, there is nothing to catch on a mouthguard or cause the kind of irritation that sends a teen back into our office between appointments.

Here are the advantages of clear aligners for your teen’s treatment:

• Easier to brush and floss the teeth, easier for oral hygiene
• Do not require any food restrictions, your teen can eat anything they want
• Shorter treatment times with less time wearing elastics
• Fewer visits and no adjustments
• Practically no repair visits
• Much more comfortable on the lips, cheeks, and tongue
• Much easier for sports, for wearing mouthguards

Metal Braces

Metal braces are a very popular treatment option for teens. They can be used for complex bite corrections. Modern brackets are smaller and more comfortable than they used to be, and teens can personalize their braces with colored bands if they want to have a fun with treatment. At MacKenzie Orthodontics, we use a digital bracket system called DIBS which allows for fully personalized brackets that are designed to straighten teeth faster, more efficiently, and with fewer appointments. With digital brackets, we use a 3D scan to customize 3D printed trays that are used to place the brackets all at once, making the initial appointment faster and more comfortable.

Here are the advantages of brackets for your teen’s treatment:

• They cannot be removed or forgotten
• They can be customized with fun colours
• Braces sometimes need to be used in complex treatments such as impacted canines

Clear Braces

Ceramic braces work the same way as metal braces but use clear or tooth-colored brackets, so they are far less noticeable. This is a good option for teens who need the precision of fixed braces but want something more discreet than traditional metal. At MacKenzie Orthodontics, we use LightForce braces, which are 3D printed to only fit the patient’s teeth. LightForce braces are designed to speed up treatment.

Invisalign Touch Up

For teens who only need a minor correction, such as a small amount of relapse after earlier treatment or a limited crowding issue, Invisalign Touch-Up is a great, cost-effective option. It is specifically designed for patients who have had orthodontic treatment in the past, but now have minor relapse. Invisalign touch-up is usually a 2-3 month treatment that brings your teen’s smile back after they forgot to wear their retainers.

How Treatment Works

1. Free Consultation

Every teen starts with a free consultation that includes digital x-rays, clinical photos, a 3D intraoral scan, and a personalized smile simulation. There is no cost and no obligation, and this gives us everything we need to recommend the right treatment.

2. A Treatment Plan Built Around Your Teen

Once we know whether braces or aligners are the better fit, we build a treatment plan around your teen’s specific bite, schedule, and goals.

3. Getting Started

For all braces and aligner patients, we take 3D scans and order the custom braces or aligners that only fit your teen’s teeth. They are typically placed on the teeth 2-4 weeks after we order them.

4. Ongoing Adjustments and Monitoring

Teens with braces will visit us periodically for adjustments that are 4-10 weeks apart. Teens in aligners usually have appointments that are 3-4 months apart, with fewer in-office visits needed thanks to our remote monitoring technology.

5. Retention

Once active treatment is complete, your teen will wear a retainer to protect their results. We offer 3D printed retainers as part of this final phase.

Why Families Choose MacKenzie Orthodontics

As Atlantic Canada’s largest clear aligner provider, we offer two world-class aligner systems, Angel Aligner and Invisalign, along with metal and ceramic braces. We will always recommend what is right for your teen rather than steering every case toward the same system.

• I am the only local orthodontist who is also a mom, and I understand what families need from a teen’s treatment experience
• Over 15 years of experience with clear aligners, plus advanced digital braces and 3D printed retainers
• Pain-free orthodontics using the Dental Pain Eraser
• Over 6,000 patients treated and more than 1,000 five-star Google reviews across our three locations
• Three convenient New Brunswick locations in Saint John, Quispamsis and Rothesay, and St. Stephen, with our St. Stephen office also serving families from St. George, St. Andrews, and Northern Maine

Tips for Parents of Teens (Coming from the Orthodontist who also has Teenagers)

Explain the Why

Help your teen understand that treatment is an investment in both their confidence and their long-term oral health, not just something happening to their teeth. Your teen is going to be actively participating in their treatment by brushing, flossing, wearing aligners and elastics, and coming to appointments. This is their time to shine and show you how responsible they are.

Let Them Have Some Say

We recommend choosing the right treatment option in consultation with your teen. They are going to be wearing their aligners or flossing their braces, so they need to be involved in the treatment decision. During the consult, we spend a lot of time discussing the advantages of each treatment method so that your teen is well informed and can make the right choice.

Stock Up on the Right Foods

For the first few days after braces are placed or adjusted, soft foods like yogurt, smoothies, and applesauce help with any tenderness. Teens in Angel Aligner or Invisalign do not have food restrictions since the aligners come out to eat, but it does mean reminding them to keep track of their aligners at school and at sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will treatment hurt?

Some mild discomfort is normal after braces are adjusted or when starting a new set of aligners, and it typically fades within a few days. We use the Dental Pain Eraser to keep treatment as comfortable as possible.

How long will treatment take?

This depends on the complexity of your teen’s case. Most teens are in braces or aligners for 12 to 24 months, though every treatment plan is personalized.

Can my teen eat normally during treatment?

With metal or ceramic braces, we will ask your teen to avoid sticky, hard, or chewy foods that can damage brackets and wires. With Angel Aligner or Invisalign, there are no food restrictions at all, since the trays simply come out at mealtime.

What about oral hygiene?

Good oral hygiene matters throughout treatment. With Angel Aligner, brushing and flossing are easier since nothing is glued to the teeth. With braces, we will walk your teen through the best way to keep their teeth and appliances clean.

Will my teen need a retainer afterward?

Yes. Retention is an essential final step for every teen, regardless of whether they were treated with braces or aligners. We provide 3D printed retainers to protect their results long after treatment ends.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

If you are considering braces or clear aligners for your teen, we would love to meet you. Book a free consultation at any of our three New Brunswick locations and we will help you find the treatment that is right for your teen.