Help your teen build a healthier, more confident smile with treatment designed for their individual needs. At Christensen Orthodontics, we provide personalized teen orthodontics in South Jordan, Utah, to correct crowding, spacing and bite problems while supporting comfortable function and long-term oral health.
Dr. Todd Christensen has practiced orthodontics since 2014 and has treated more than 10,000 orthodontic cases, including thousands of teen patients. Whether your teen needs braces, clear aligners or continued monitoring, our orthodontist and team will explain the options clearly and help your family make an informed decision.
Call 801-446-5548 to schedule a teen orthodontic consultation.
Why Orthodontic Treatment Often Begins During the Teen Years
By adolescence, most permanent teeth have erupted, making crowding, spacing and bite relationships easier to evaluate. Teenagers are also still growing, which may give our orthodontist opportunities to guide tooth movement and jaw development at an appropriate stage.
Orthodontic treatment during the teen years may help:
- Straighten crowded, overlapping or rotated teeth
- Close gaps and improve uneven spacing
- Correct overbites, underbites, crossbites and open bites
- Improve how the upper and lower teeth fit together
- Make brushing and flossing easier
- Reduce uneven pressure or wear caused by bite problems
- Create a more balanced and confident smile
An evaluation does not always mean treatment needs to start immediately. Dr. Christensen will determine whether your teen is ready to begin or would benefit from additional growth and monitoring.
Signs Your Teen May Need Orthodontic Care
Some orthodontic concerns are easy to see, while others are only identified during a professional examination. Consider scheduling an evaluation if your teen has:
- Crowded, crooked or overlapping teeth
- Noticeable spaces between teeth
- Upper or lower teeth that protrude
- Difficulty biting or chewing comfortably
- Teeth that do not meet evenly
- A jaw that shifts when opening or closing
- Difficulty cleaning between crowded teeth
- Teeth that have moved after earlier orthodontic treatment
- A recommendation for an orthodontic evaluation from a dentist
If your child has not yet reached the teen years, visit our Phase One Treatment page to learn when early evaluation or treatment may be appropriate.
Teen Braces and Clear Aligner Options
Every teenager has different clinical needs, preferences and responsibilities. Our goal is to recommend the treatment that can predictably address the required tooth movement and bite correction while fitting the patient’s daily life.
Traditional Braces
Traditional braces provide steady, controlled tooth movement and can address a wide range of alignment and bite concerns. Because braces remain attached to the teeth, they do not depend on a teen remembering to wear removable trays.
Dr. Christensen has completed more than 2,000 traditional braces cases. Braces may be especially appropriate for complex movement, significant bite correction or patients who would benefit from a fixed treatment option.
Damon™ Braces
Damon™ braces use self-ligating brackets that hold the orthodontic wire differently from traditional brackets. Dr. Christensen has 12 years of experience with self-ligating braces and has treated more than 6,000 Damon cases.
During the consultation, he will explain whether Damon braces offer an appropriate approach for your teen’s specific alignment and bite needs.
Clear Aligners for Teens
Responsible teens may qualify for clear aligners, including Invisalign® treatment and Spark™ aligners. The trays are removable for eating, brushing and flossing, and their discreet appearance appeals to many teens.
Clear aligners require consistent daily wear. They may not be the right choice for a teen who regularly forgets or loses removable items. Dr. Christensen has completed more than 2,000 clear aligner cases and will help your family decide whether aligners or braces offer the better approach.
Choosing Between Braces and Clear Aligners
The right treatment is not determined by appearance alone. Our orthodontist considers the type of tooth movement required, bite complexity, oral hygiene, maturity and the patient’s ability to follow instructions.
Braces may be preferable when:
- The bite or required tooth movement is more complex
- A fixed appliance would provide better consistency
- The teen is likely to misplace or forget aligners
- Precise control is needed throughout treatment
Clear aligners may be appropriate when:
- The necessary movements can be managed predictably with aligners
- The teen wants a less noticeable treatment option
- The patient can wear the trays as directed
- The teen can keep the aligners clean and stored safely
Your family does not need to make this decision before the consultation. Dr. Christensen will explain which options can address your teen’s needs and the responsibilities involved with each treatment.
What Parents and Teens Can Expect
The first visit gives your teen and family an opportunity to receive clear answers without pressure. Our team will review your teen’s dental history, listen to your concerns and evaluate the teeth, bite and jaw relationships.
Digital X-rays or an intraoral scan may be used to provide a more detailed view and support treatment planning. Our Dexis scanner creates an accurate digital model without traditional impression material.
After the evaluation, Dr. Christensen will explain:
- What is affecting your teen’s teeth or bite
- Whether treatment should begin now or later
- Which treatment options are clinically appropriate
- What your teen must do to keep treatment progressing
- What to expect during progress visits
- How retainers will help protect the result afterward
We encourage both parents and teens to ask questions so everyone understands the treatment plan and expectations.
Making Orthodontics Work With Teen Life
Braces and aligners should not prevent teens from participating in school, sports, music or social activities. Our team provides practical instructions to help patients manage treatment confidently.
Sports and Physical Activities
Teens can continue playing sports during orthodontic treatment. Patients with braces may need an orthodontic mouthguard for contact activities. Clear aligners should be stored safely when they need to be removed.
Band and Musical Instruments
Musicians can continue playing wind and brass instruments with braces or aligners. An adjustment period may be needed, but regular practice usually helps teens adapt.
Meals and Oral Hygiene
Patients with braces will need to avoid foods that could damage brackets or wires and clean carefully around their appliances. Teens with aligners should remove their trays before eating and brush before putting them back in.
Our team will demonstrate home-care techniques and explain how to protect orthodontic appliances between visits.
Helping Your Teen Stay on Track
Successful orthodontic treatment is a team effort. Parents can help by encouraging consistent brushing and flossing, reminding teens to follow elastic or aligner instructions, and keeping scheduled progress visits.
Teens should contact our office if a bracket breaks, a wire feels sharp, an aligner is lost or an appliance no longer fits properly. Addressing small concerns promptly can help protect comfort and prevent avoidable delays.
Once active treatment is complete, your teen will receive a retainer to help maintain the new alignment. Following retainer instructions is essential because teeth can shift after braces or aligners are removed.
Experience Families Can Trust
Dr. Christensen completed dental school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a general practice residency at the University of Utah, and an orthodontic residency with a Master of Science in Dental Medicine at the University of Colorado. He has completed more than 1,000 hours of continuing education, with approximately 90% focused on orthodontics.
His experience includes thousands of cases involving teen patients, braces, clear aligners, bite correction and complex dental and skeletal concerns. He combines detailed treatment planning with careful attention to the appearance, function and long-term stability of each smile.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Orthodontics
What age should my teen see an orthodontist?
There is no single starting age for every patient. Treatment often begins after most permanent teeth have erupted, but the right timing depends on tooth development, jaw growth and the condition being treated. An evaluation allows Dr. Christensen to determine whether treatment should begin or be monitored.
Are braces or clear aligners better for teens?
Both can be effective. Braces may be better for complex movement or teens who need a fixed appliance. Clear aligners may work well for responsible patients who want a removable, less noticeable option and can follow the required wear schedule.
Will orthodontic treatment interfere with sports or activities?
Most teens can continue sports, music and other activities during orthodontic treatment. Patients with braces may need an orthodontic mouthguard for contact sports, while teens with aligners will need to store their trays safely when removed. Our team will provide instructions based on the treatment plan.
How can parents help teens stay on track?
Parents can encourage consistent brushing and flossing, remind teens to follow food, elastic or aligner instructions, and help them keep scheduled visits. Contacting our office promptly when something breaks or feels uncomfortable can also prevent small issues from delaying treatment.
How long does teen orthodontic treatment take?
Treatment time depends on your teen’s teeth, bite, growth, treatment method and ability to follow instructions. Dr. Christensen will provide an individualized estimate after evaluating your teen’s smile.
What happens if my teen loses an aligner or breaks a bracket?
Call 801-446-5548 for guidance. Our team will determine whether your teen needs an appointment and explain what to do in the meantime. Prompt attention can help keep treatment on track.
Do you provide teen orthodontics near Riverton, Sandy and Herriman?
Yes. Christensen Orthodontics welcomes teens and families from South Jordan, Riverton, Sandy, Draper, West Jordan, Herriman and surrounding communities in Utah.
Schedule a Teen Orthodontic Consultation
Give your family clear answers about your teen’s smile, bite and treatment options. Call Christensen Orthodontics at 801-446-5548 or contact our office to schedule a teen orthodontic consultation in South Jordan, Utah.
801-446-5548