Orthodontic Treatment in Adolescents;
Includes the orthodontic treatments applied to the age group between 12-20, when all primary teeth are replaced by permanent ones, until the growth and development are completed.
In this age group, usually the growth spurt (peak period) has passed. In adolescents who have skeletal malocclusion but could not receive early treatment, some situations can still be resolved with orthodontic treatment, depending on their age, bone development and skeletal discrepancy, while in some cases, waiting for the completion of growth and development may be necessary for the surgical option.
For example, if there is skeletal constriction of the upper jaw and the child is around 14-15 years old, skeletal expansion can be performed without any surgical support.
However, in cases of skeletal class 3 malocclusion, which lower jaw protrusion and upper jaw deficiency is present, especially if there is a family history, the chance of early treatment is lost and the age of 18 should be waited for orthognathic surgery.Both fixed mechanics and clear aligners can be successfully used for orthodontic treatments in this age group.