Let’s face it: Bullying can be an inevitable and terrible part of growing up. While we should focus on anti-bullying strategies, we also need to focus on our teen’s self confidence and well-being. We know that sometimes bullies are lashing out as bravado because they lack their own self-confidence, or they are seeking attention that they might not be getting elsewhere. They unleash that frustration on their peers in negative ways damaging the victim’s self-confidence in the process.
A child’s self-confidence is precious and fragile, especially in the tween and teen years. As anyone who has gone through those years in braces knows, this can just add to what is an already awkward time.
At Dentalign Orthodontics, we see our job as not only creating healthy, beautiful smiles for our tween and teen patients but also caring for their overall well-being. Our goal is to become an active part of our patients’ support system. By opening conversations with our patients and building relationships we are often able to root out problems and help them come up with strategies to overcome them.
We also have a secret weapon in our back-pocket when it comes to self-esteem: Invisalign Teen clear aligners.
A recent study found that only 22% of teens who get braces feel a boost in self-esteem; whereas, nearly half of teens wearing Invisalign feel more confident. . Likewise, 40% of teens reported that wearing braces negatively impacts their self-confidence during treatment; whereas, merely13% of teens reported feeling the same about wearing Invisalign aligners. (Not surprisingly, after conversations with our adult patients, we think the findings would be similar.)
We know that our teens are super conscious about their image. Just look at how many selfies they take, and how much time they spend liking, commenting and sharing their friends’ photos on Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram. That’s why when teens come to us for orthodontic treatment, we want to be sure we have options for them, to ensure their confidence stays high while their smile improves.
Increasing self-image and minimizing the chance that your child will experience bullying allows us to positively impact their lives not only throughout treatment but in the years to come.
Before making a decision, consider having an in-person consultation with Dr. Manisha at Dentalign Orthodontics. Our friendly team is waiting to answer any of your questions and start you or your child on a path to a gorgeous smile!
Click below for an in-person consultation with Dr. Manisha Jindal. We can’t wait to meet you!
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