1. At what age should my child have an orthodontic evaluation?
2. Why is it important to have orthodontic treatment at a young age?
3. Some of my child's friends are already wearing braces and some parents are waiting until their children are older.  Why is there a difference in treatment?
4. Will my child be able to participate in sports and band while wearing braces?
5. What will braces cost?
6. Am I too old for braces?

At what age should my child have an orthodontic evaluation?

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends an orthodontic screening for children by the age of 7 years. At age 7 the teeth and jaws are developed enough so that the dentist or orthodontist can see if there will be any serious bite problems in the future. Most of the time treatment is not necessary at age 7, but it gives the parents and dentist time to watch the development of the patient and decide on the best mode of treatment. When you have time on your side you can plan ahead and prevent the formation of serious problems.

It’s not always easy for parents to tell if their child has an orthodontic problem. Here are some signs or habits that may indicate the need for an orthodontic examination:
• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty in chewing or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Thumb sucking
• Finger sucking
• Crowded, misplaced or blocked out teeth
• Jaws that shift or make sounds
• Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
• Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
• Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
If any of these apply to your child, please be sure to make an appointment with our office – we can do a thorough evaluation, and together we can decide on the best course of treatment for your child.

Back to Top

Why is it important to have orthodontic treatment at a young age?

Research has shown that serious orthodontic problems can be more easily corrected when the patient’s skeleton is still growing and flexible.  Children who begin a course of orthodontic treatment fairly early (say by age 7 or so), gain several benefits, including:
• Guiding jaw growth
• Lowered risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
• Correcting harmful oral habits
• Improved appearance and self-esteem
• Guiding permanent teeth into a more favorable position
• Improvement in the way lips meet
Once we have evaluated your child’s orthodontic needs, we can more clearly decide if these benefits will apply to your child’s treatment.
 

Back to Top

Some of my child's friends are already wearing braces and some parents are waiting until their children are older. Why is there a difference in treatment?

Each treatment plan is specific for that child and his/her specific problem. In some cases, children mature early (for example, they get their permanent teeth early) and in some cases early treatment is indicated to prevent a more severe problem from occurring. Together, we will decide the most optimum treatment plan. If you have questions, please feel free to call our office any time.

Back to Top

Will my child be able to participate in sports and band while wearing braces?

We advise wearing a protective mouth guard while riding a bike, skating, or playing any contact sports, whether organized sports or a neighborhood game. We’ll be happy to recommend a specific mouth guard. 

Playing wind or brass instruments, such as the trumpet, will clearly require some adaptation to braces. With practice and a period of adjustment, braces typically do not interfere with the playing of musical instruments.

Back to Top

What will braces cost?

Costs depend on a few simple factors: the type of treatment required, the time and expense necessary to diagnose and treat a particular problem and the length of monitoring needed after treatment is complete.

Though dental insurance isn’t designed to cover all the costs of treatment, we’re committed to helping you take full advantage of your insurance benefits. We have several options for financing the portion owed after your benefit plan has fulfilled its obligations to you. Not sure you understand your coverage or what you’ll owe after your insurance pays? Ask our team of professionals and we’ll do our best to help. Financing doesn’t have to be difficult! We offer several types of plans and even offer a monthly bank draft to make payments easy.

Back to Top

Am I too old for braces?

We enthusiastically welcome adults into our world! It takes determination and courage to change your appearance later in life. We proudly offer Invisalign™ and clear braces to our adult patients who want to avoid the “metal mouth” stereotype often associated with Orthodontics. We’re confident that we can help our adult patients improve their looks …and have a great experience at the same time.

Back to Top