When people picture a typical 12–14 year old, braces usually come to mind. Maybe even headgear for those from the Jurassic era. But by high school braces are far less common.
So what is it like to be one of the few high school students still wearing them?
According to Reese Orthodontics, the most common age to start braces is between 10 and 14, when most permanent teeth have come in and the jaw is still growing. Orthodontic care, however, can still straighten teeth, correct spacing and alignment issues, and improve a person’s smile at different stages of life.
Ingrid Bingham, a senior here at San Domenico, will be getting her braces off in May after having them on-and-off since age eight.
“When I was younger, I thought it was going to end much sooner,” she said. “But now I feel like I’m finally coming to the end of my journey with braces.”
Although braces are temporary, they can still affect day-to-day confidence. Bingham explained that because her teeth have been constantly shifting throughout treatment, it can sometimes make her unsure of how her smile will look, a worry that many students with braces also experience during treatment.
“My smile is changing all the time,” Bingham said. “For my senior portrait I actually smiled with my lips closed because I didn’t want to show my braces.”
Bingham emphasized that many students who don’t have braces in high school often misunderstand why some people still need them. People might assume it’s something that could have been done earlier, but getting braces as a teenager is meant to help them later in life by enhancing self confidence through aesthetics.
Not all high school students, however, share the same experience with braces. Valentina Pinchinatti, a Junior at Instituto Sanmiguelense in Guanajuato, Mexico, has had braces for almost 2 years and says they haven’t had a major impact on her confidence.
“Sometimes I like them, and sometimes I’d rather not have them,” Pinchinatti said. “But you kind of just get used to them, so it doesn’t really affect my confidence that much.”
For Pinchinatti and many others, the biggest challenge of having braces hasn’t been confidence, but the constant maintenance and inconvenience. Certain foods such as rice, nuts, popcorn and chewy candy can be difficult to eat, and small pieces often get stuck in the brackets.
“Things like rice get stuck really easily,” she said. “You always have to check your teeth or excuse yourself to make sure nothing’s there.”
Even daily routines become more complicated. Pinchinatti notes that braces can wear down toothbrushes quickly because the metal brackets bend and damage the bristles. Regardless, she believes the results will be worth it.
“Having them for two years will hopefully give me results that last my whole life,” Pinchinatti said.
A similar perspective comes from Lazar Golden, a junior at San Domenico, who has had braces for over three years and says they haven’t impacted how he sees himself.“They haven’t affected my confidence at all,” Golden said. “If anything, it makes me feel good knowing my teeth are getting fixed.”
For Golden, the biggest challenge isn’t social, but rather physical.
“The hardest part is going to the orthodontist and having my teeth hurt for a few weeks after they tighten them,” he explained. “It makes it hard to eat for the first few days.”
But, he emphasized that this discomfort isn’t constant. After the initial soreness wears off, braces quickly become something you barely notice.
“People without braces might not realize that you don’t really feel them after a while,” Golden said. “I don’t really mind them anymore.”
It is important to consider that braces are not limited to middle school and early adolescence. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, about 1 in 3 orthodontic patients today are adults.
Along with traditional braces, many people now use alternatives like Invisalign, which use clear, removable aligners to straighten teeth. Because they are less noticeable, Invisalign has become especially popular among older teens and adults who may feel more self-conscious about wearing metal braces. With options like Invisalign and retainers, smile enhancement isn’t limited to younger age groups.
There is no “correct” age to have braces. Some may consider that having them in high school seems unusual, but for many students it simply becomes part of their routine. The temporary discomfort is outweighed by the long-term confidence that comes with a lasting smile.
