Teen & Children Orthodontics · Specialist-Led · Last reviewed May 2026
The Right Treatment, at the Right Age.
Picasso Dental treats children from age 7 (interceptive Phase 1 orthodontics) through teens and young adults, with the full range of options including Invisalign Teen, Invisalign First for children, traditional and ceramic braces. Specialist orthodontist-led, age-appropriate treatment that takes advantage of jaw growth where possible.
When Should My Child First See an Orthodontist?
Age 7. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7. This does not mean treatment starts at 7, most children do not need anything yet, but a specialist can identify developing problems early. Crossbites, severe crowding, narrow arches, habits like thumb-sucking and ectopic eruption are best caught at this age, when treatment can be far simpler than later intervention.
Two Phases of Childhood and Teen Orthodontics
Phase 1: Interceptive (Age 12)
When: Mixed dentition (some baby teeth, some permanent). Specific developing issues identified.
What: Palatal expanders, partial braces, Invisalign First, habit appliances. Addresses arch development, crossbites, severe crowding, harmful habits.
Goal: Take advantage of active jaw growth to set up an easier Phase 2.
Duration: 12 months, often followed by 18 months of observation before Phase 2.
Phase 2: Comprehensive (Age 18)
When: Most permanent teeth erupted. Time for comprehensive alignment.
What: Full braces (metal, ceramic, self-ligating) or Invisalign Teen. Aligns the full permanent dentition.
Goal: Final alignment of all permanent teeth and bite correction.
Duration: 36 months depending on complexity.
Treatment Options for Teens
The full range, age-appropriate. Most options open to teens but each has its fit.
Traditional Metal Braces
Why teens choose it: Lowest cost. Most durable. Effective for any case complexity. Coloured ligatures can be fun (changeable at every adjustment).
Trade-off: Most visible. Eating restrictions. Hygiene takes more effort.
Self-Ligating Metal
Why teens choose it: Fewer adjustment visits, easier hygiene, slightly cleaner appearance.
Trade-off: More expensive. Still visible.
Ceramic Braces
Why teens choose it: Tooth-coloured brackets, far less visible. Good for image-conscious teens (high school students, performers).
Trade-off: Slightly more brittle. More expensive.
Invisalign Teen
Why teens choose it: Near-invisible. Removable for sport and special occasions. Compliance indicators help parents track usage.
Trade-off: Requires 22 hour daily wear discipline. Higher cost.
Invisalign First (Children)
Why families choose it: Discreet Phase 1 treatment for children with mixed dentition. Addresses early-stage crowding, crossbites, expansion.
Trade-off: Requires good compliance from a child. Better suited to mature children.
Specialty Appliances
When: Specific developing issues, palatal expansion, Forsus Class II correction, Twin Block, habit breakers, transpalatal arches.
Cost: Quoted per appliance, see our cost guide.
What Phase 1 Treatment Looks Like
The most common Phase 1 indications and what treatment involves.
Crossbite (Front or Side)
The issue: Upper teeth bite inside lower teeth (front crossbite) or upper teeth bite inside lower teeth on one side (side crossbite). Common cause of asymmetric jaw growth if untreated.
Treatment: Palatal expander (a removable or fixed appliance that widens the upper jaw) over 9 months. Most effective during active growth.
Severe Crowding
The issue: Permanent teeth erupting with insufficient space, severe rotations, ectopic eruption.
Treatment: Palatal expander, partial braces, sometimes early extractions. Goal is to create space for permanent eruption to proceed normally.
Class II Underdevelopment
The issue: Lower jaw underdeveloped relative to upper, creating an apparent overbite. Best treated during active growth.
Treatment: Functional appliances (Twin Block, Forsus, headgear in selected cases) to encourage lower jaw forward growth.
Thumb-Sucking and Tongue Thrust
The issue: Persistent habits creating open bite or anterior protrusion.
Treatment: Habit-breaking appliances, often combined with myofunctional therapy. Best caught before age 9.
Ectopic Eruption
The issue: Permanent teeth erupting in the wrong position. Can damage adjacent teeth or fail to erupt at all.
Treatment: Limited orthodontic appliances to redirect erupting teeth. Sometimes extraction of an obstructing baby tooth.
Severe Spacing
The issue: Large gaps between developing teeth, sometimes related to missing teeth or oversized arches.
Treatment: Maintainers and partial braces to manage space until permanent teeth erupt. Comprehensive Phase 2 closes spaces.
Daily Life with Teen Orthodontics
School, sport, social life. The practical adjustments.
School and Studying
Minimal impact. Mild discomfort for 3 days after each adjustment, paracetamol or ibuprofen helps. Schedule adjustments around exams when possible.
Eating
Braces: avoid hard, sticky, chewy foods. Cut apples and corn off the cob. Skip popcorn, ice, hard candy, gum. Invisalign: aligners come out, eat anything, but brush before reinserting.
Contact Sports
Braces: orthodontic mouthguard required (different from a standard mouthguard, fits over brackets). We provide one at adjustments. Invisalign: aligners come out for play, standard mouthguard used.
Wind Instruments
3 weeks of adaptation typical for trumpet, clarinet, etc. with braces. Invisalign causes minimal impact (aligners can come out for performances if needed).
Photos and Special Occasions
Invisalign: aligners come out for photos, no visible orthodontic appearance. Braces: choose ceramic for less visibility, or schedule treatment timeline around important events (graduation, prom).
Social Confidence
Most teens adapt within a few weeks. Coloured elastic ties (changeable every adjustment) can make braces fun. Many teens report feeling more confident as alignment progresses, even before treatment ends.
Teen Orthodontic Pricing
Standard pricing applies, no separate teen pricing. Per-tier pricing for traditional metal, self-ligating metal, ceramic, Invisalign Teen (Lite, Moderate, Comprehensive), Invisalign First and Phase 1 specialty appliances is published on our cost guides. All-inclusive of consultation, X-rays, treatment planning, all adjustment visits and final retainers. Phase 1 + Phase 2 sequential treatment is quoted as separate phases. Pricing is itemised in your written quote after specialist consultation.
The Specialist Orthodontic Team
Specialist Orthodontist
Dr. Thuan Phung
Specialist orthodontist with comprehensive experience across teen and child cases. Particular focus on Invisalign Teen, ceramic braces, and Phase 1 interceptive cases.
Specialist Orthodontist
Dr. Toan Le (Dr. Mathew)
Specialist orthodontist with broad teen experience. Focused on bite correction, severe crowding cases, and family treatment continuity.
Founding Clinical Director
Dr. Emily Nguyen
Founder of the original clinic in 2013. Sets clinical standards for orthodontic case selection across all ages and quality benchmarks group-wide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age should my child first see an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7. This does not mean treatment starts at 7, most children do not need anything yet, but a specialist can identify developing problems early. Crossbites, severe crowding, narrow arches, habits like thumb-sucking and ectopic eruption are best caught at this age.
What is Phase 1 (interceptive) orthodontics?
Phase 1 is early orthodontic treatment in children with mixed dentition (some baby teeth, some permanent), typically age 12. It uses appliances like palatal expanders, partial braces or Invisalign First to address arch development, crossbites, severe crowding or habit consequences while the jaw is still growing.
What is Phase 2 (comprehensive) orthodontics?
Phase 2 is comprehensive orthodontic treatment once permanent teeth have erupted, typically age 16. It aligns the permanent dentition using full braces or Invisalign Teen. Most teens go directly to Phase 2 without Phase 1 if their mixed dentition develops normally.
What is Invisalign Teen?
Invisalign Teen is the standard Invisalign system adapted for teenage patients. It includes compliance indicators (small dots on the aligners that fade with wear) so parents and orthodontists can verify wear time. It also includes free replacement aligners for lost or broken aligners (up to 6) and accommodates erupting permanent teeth.
How much does teen orthodontic treatment cost in Vietnam?
Teen orthodontic treatment is tiered by appliance type (traditional metal, self-ligating, ceramic, Invisalign Teen tiers, Invisalign First for children, Phase 1 specialty appliances) and case complexity. Per-tier pricing is published on our cost guide and our Invisalign cost guide.
Should my teen choose braces or Invisalign?
Both are valid. Invisalign Teen suits responsible teens who can manage 22 hour daily wear, the compliance indicators help parents track usage. Fixed braces work better for teens who lose things, who are very active in sport, or whose case is complex.
Will treatment affect my teen at school or in sport?
Minimal impact at school. Mild discomfort for 3 days after each adjustment, manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. For sport, fixed braces require an orthodontic mouthguard for contact sports; Invisalign aligners come out for play.
How long does teen orthodontic treatment take?
Mild cases: 18 months. Moderate cases: 24 months. Severe cases: 36 months. Phase 1 treatment is typically 12 months, often followed by a 18 month observation period before Phase 2 begins.
Will my teen need extractions?
Sometimes. Severe crowding cases may require extracting permanent premolars to create alignment space. Modern techniques (IPR, palatal expansion in younger patients) can sometimes avoid extractions.
Can my child have orthodontics if they still have baby teeth?
Yes, this is the mixed dentition stage where Phase 1 interceptive orthodontics applies. Treatment uses appliances designed for mixed dentition (Invisalign First, partial braces, expanders). Comprehensive alignment typically waits until most permanent teeth have erupted.
How do I help my teen take care of their braces or aligners?
Encourage daily hygiene routine (brush after meals, floss with threaders for braces). For Invisalign, a wear-tracking habit (aligners in the case when not in mouth, never wrapped in a napkin). Regular check-ins with us at every 8 weeks catch issues early.
Will my teen need retainers afterwards?
Yes, long-term. Teeth naturally drift after treatment, especially in the first year. We supply clear, Hawley, fixed or Vivera retainers and recommend nightly wear indefinitely. Skipping retention is the single biggest cause of orthodontic relapse in adulthood.
Related Pages
Invisalign
Complete Invisalign guide including Invisalign Teen and Invisalign First. Picasso is a Platinum Elite Provider.
Dental Braces
Complete fixed-brace guide. Traditional metal, self-ligating, ceramic options. Most teen cases use one of these.
Children's Dentistry
General dental care for children, checkups, fluoride, sealants, fillings. Often the first contact before orthodontics.
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