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When it comes to talking about the possibility of braces, we know your No. 1 concern is always going to be your child’s well-being. We also know there’s another concern lurking not far behind that one; we’ll call it concern No. 1b: “Oh no. How the heck are we going to afford this?” Let’s face it, orthodontic work is a major expense and a long-term commitment for your family. Thinking about it can be daunting.

In many ways braces are like college in that many parents see them as an eventuality, an investment in their children’s future that is simply part of the growing-up process. But not every child will need braces. Some parents do actually get lucky in that department. How can you tell if you’ll be one of those parents?

When you think about braces-wearers, the image that most likely comes to mind is that of a teenager, someone already in the throes of hormonal awkwardness, like the nerd in “Sixteen Candles” or the nerd in “Never Been Kissed” or the nerd in … hey, why is it always a nerd? You might find this surprising, but over the years, the age of the average braces-wearer has been skewing younger — like elementary school young.

You shouldn’t have to choose between straight teeth and bright white smile! That’s why, for a limited time Dr. Miler is offering free teeth whitening at the end of your treatment when you invest in Clear Aligners®, the most advanced clear aligner system made in the USA.

While getting your child braces is primarily a medical decision — one that helps set them up for a lifetime of better health — there is another important reason to consider braces: They will ultimately improve your child’s self-esteem.“ Self-esteem” can be a squishy concept.

There’s a scene in the film “Peggy Sue Got Married,” a time-traveling classic from the 1980s, in which the protagonist, Kathleen Turner, tells her grandfather that she has returned from the future and has a chance to change everything about her life. What, she asks him, would he do differently if he could relive his life?

Every so often a dangerous “trend” will circulate online that makes you think “People actually thought that was a good idea?” Take Do It Yourself braces — yes, you read that right. A few years ago, a video surfaced of a young woman instructing viewers to use small rubber bands to coax crooked or gapped teeth into place without the aid of a trained orthodontist or availability of a trained orthodontist’s vital equipment.

Braces have come a long way in the past 30 years, but they’re still braces. They still represent a major change for your child and, frankly, that change can be a little scary and uncomfortable at first. To help your child successfully navigate their new (temporary)  life as a braces-wearer, we here at Miler Orthodontics suggest the following.

If your child is a good candidate for aligner therapy — and not everyone is — then having them enter into the braces phase of their life a little less reluctantly can make a big difference in their overall attitude and compliance during treatment and with retainers.