Braces and school: dealing with teasing
“I don’t want braces, everyone will laugh at me.” We hear this a lot — and we take it seriously. Because children deserve the best possible orthodontic treatment not only for health reasons but also for psychological ones: so that they don’t get bullied at school.
Why the worry is justified
Children and teenagers are often worried about how they look and how their friends and classmates see them. At a stage when self-confidence and appearance play a big role, visible braces can become a constant issue. Especially for teenagers, treatment is therefore also important for aesthetic reasons — to develop healthy self-confidence.
How much this matters to children is shown by the story of Carla, one of our patients: teased at first, envied now. You can find her video on our Happy Moment Videos page.
What parents can actually do
- Don’t play it down. “It doesn’t matter what the others say” rarely helps. Instead, ask what exactly was said and how your child felt about it.
- Make the goal visible. With invisible aligners, the result is simulated in 3D before treatment. So your child can see what they’re working towards — and that this phase won’t last forever.
- Put the treatment time into perspective. In general, treatment during the baby-tooth and mixed-dentition stages takes between 12 and 18 months, and for teenagers usually between 9 and 18 months. For a child, a foreseeable period is easier to cope with than an open-ended one.
- Let them have a say in the type of treatment. If your child is dead set against brackets, that’s a serious argument when choosing the method — and a reason to look into whether invisible aligners are an option.
- Involve the school. If comments turn into systematic exclusion, the matter belongs in the hands of the class teacher, not just at the dental practice.
How invisible aligners take the sting out of the issue
The aligners are practically completely transparent. Chances are, nobody will even notice that your child is wearing these almost invisible “braces”. They fit seamlessly into everyday life without affecting how your child interacts with others. Compared with metal or ceramic brackets, they’re barely visible, which can be especially important for schoolchildren who worry about their appearance. They can boost self-confidence and preserve the smile throughout treatment.
That’s exactly why “No bullying at school” is right at the top of our list of advantages — even ahead of leisure, sport and music. And the comfort and flexibility the aligners offer also help teenagers stick to their treatment more consistently.
And if it has to be brackets?
Even then, all is not lost. Fixed braces with clear brackets or lingual braces (fitted on the inside of the teeth) are less visible. For fixed braces, we use self-ligating brackets: they’re smaller than traditional ones, allow gentler, more comfortable treatment and shorter appointments — and they don’t need elastic ligatures, which discolour easily.
Taking the long view pays off
Early orthodontic treatment can be crucial for your child’s dental health and self-confidence. Orthodontic treatment in the teenage years is an important life decision that leads to a healthy, confident smile. What may seem like a price paid at school today is in fact an investment your child will benefit from every day for the rest of their life.
Let’s talk about it
Raise the issue openly at the consultation — ideally together with your child. In a detailed consultation with our experienced orthodontists, we’ll find the treatment option your child feels comfortable with. Book an appointment now or take a look at before and after photos first.