Orthodontic Care Built Around Teenagers
Choosing an orthodontist for teens in Sacramento, CA is a decision most families make around middle school. The teenage years are the most common time to straighten teeth for a practical reason: nearly all the permanent teeth are in, the jaws are still growing enough to cooperate, and teeth tend to move efficiently. Dr. Gregory Evrigenis treats teens from across Sacramento at our Pavilions Lane and Del Paso Road offices, and the plan is built around your teenager’s schedule, sport and comfort level as much as around their bite.
Teens also have opinions, and they should. A patient who chose their own appliance and understands the timeline wears elastics, keeps aligners in and shows up. That cooperation, more than anything else, is what decides whether treatment finishes on schedule.
Signs It Is Time for an Evaluation
- Crowding, overlapping or noticeably rotated teeth
- Gaps that have not closed as the permanent teeth came in
- An overbite, underbite, crossbite or open bite
- Jaw joints that pop, click or feel tired after chewing
- Teeth that wear unevenly or chip repeatedly
- A previous round of early treatment that was always meant to have a second phase
None of these have to be dramatic to be worth an appointment. The consultation is free, and an evaluation that ends in “nothing needed right now” is still useful information.
Treatment Choices for Teens
Metal Braces
Modern metal braces are smaller and more comfortable than the ones parents remember, and they remain the most versatile tool we have for complex movements. Colored elastic ties let teens change the look at every adjustment visit.
Clear Braces
Ceramic clear braces work the same way as metal but use tooth-colored brackets that blend in from a conversational distance. They are a common choice for teens who are self-conscious in photos or on camera.
Invisalign for Teens
Invisalign clear aligners are removable, which teens like for eating, brushing and playing wind instruments. They also require discipline: about 20 to 22 hours of wear a day. Dr. Evrigenis will tell you candidly at the consultation whether your teen’s case and habits are a good fit for aligners or better served by braces. You can also read about Invisalign in Sacramento in more detail.
Sports, Instruments and Everyday Life
Braces do not sideline athletes. Teens playing contact sports wear an orthodontic mouthguard over their brackets, which is different from the boil-and-bite guard sold at sporting goods stores; we will make sure you have the right one. Aligner patients remove the trays and wear a standard guard.
Musicians adapt too. Brass and woodwind players usually need a week or two to adjust to brackets, and wax over the brackets during that period makes a real difference. Aligners are typically the easier option for a serious player, and that is part of the conversation when we plan treatment.
Keeping Treatment On Schedule
Two things keep a teen’s treatment moving: hygiene and elastics. Food trapped around brackets causes decalcification — permanent white marks around where the bracket sat — which we would rather prevent than explain afterward. We show every patient how to brush and floss around their appliance at the bonding appointment, and we check the result at each visit.
Elastics are the other half. They are the piece that corrects the bite relationship, they only work while they are being worn, and skipped weeks add months. We tell teens exactly that, in those words.
Retainers and What Comes After
Finishing treatment is not the end of the process. Teeth have a memory and will drift back toward their old positions without retention, so every patient leaves with retainers and clear instructions on how long to wear them. Retainers are cheaper and easier than a second round of treatment; that is the entire argument, and it is a good one.
Common Questions from Parents of Teens
Is my teen too old to start?
No. Teeth move at any age, and we also treat adults. High school is a convenient window, not a deadline.
How often are appointments?
Most teens are seen every six to ten weeks, depending on the appliance. We schedule around school hours whenever the day allows.
What if my teen had braces as a child?
That is common. Early treatment solves specific problems during growth; a second phase in the teen years aligns the full permanent set. Bring any records you have and we will build on them.
Do you treat younger siblings too?
Yes — see our page on orthodontics for children. Families often schedule siblings back to back at the same office.
Schedule a Free Consultation in Sacramento
Every new patient at Evrigenis Orthodontics starts with a free consultation — an exam, a conversation about what you are seeing, and a clear recommendation with no pressure to start. Visit us at our Pavilions office at 544 Pavilions Lane, Sacramento, CA 95825 (916-923-9168) or our Natomas office at 1954 Del Paso Road, Suite 101, Sacramento, CA 95834 (916-575-9990). Both offices see patients Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.