Orthodontic experts, pediatric dentists, and general family dental providers all recommend that children get their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. The reason for this specific age is because most children will have a combination of primary (baby) and permanent (adult) teeth, which essentially allows for a preview of what’s to come in your child’s oral development.
That being said, not all kids need braces at such a young age. But if your child does have some significant bite concerns – such as crowding, overbites, or a narrow jaw – they may be more at risk for problems in their developing bite. Early intervention (such as “phase 1 braces” near you) can minimize the extent of their orthodontic needs in the future.
Orthodontic Consultations and Braces in Brighton
The easiest way to determine if your child needs braces (near you) is to simply have them see our dentist every six months. During these periodic visits, your child’s tooth eruption patterns, jaw alignment, facial development, and other growth factors are monitored. If at any point certain concerns arise, our Brighton dentist will discuss them with you.
In some cases, your family or another pediatric dentist may recommend an orthodontic consultation after watching your child’s oral and facial development over time. When that’s the case, you’ll want to see a specialist just to get a general idea as to whether or not your child needs braces.
An orthodontic consultation can take place as early as 7-8 years of age, or as late as high school. But the earlier, the better. Especially since it’s easier to modify growth patterns of the facial bones while your child is still young. Waiting until they’re a teen and the bones are already far along in development leaves less room to intercept growth patterns and tooth placement.
Consultation for Braces (Near You)
For braces in Brighton, Kids City Dental begins with an exam and consultation. During this visit we’ll:
- Evaluate your child’s facial skeletal patterns
- Check the biting relationship between the upper and lower teeth (occlusion)
- Screen for impacted teeth, crowding, or congenitally missing teeth
- Assess the development of unerupted molars or wisdom teeth
- Discuss concerns such as thumb and finger sucking, or tongue thrusting
- Take a series of photographs, scans, and X-rays
Once all of this information is gathered, we can determine if your child will need any type of orthodontic therapy, be it braces or some type of growth modification appliance. Again, the earlier we’re able to intercept the alignment of bone and tooth placement, the more successful and efficient their orthodontic care can be.
Paying for Braces in Brighton
Let’s say you’re certain that your child requires orthodontic treatment. How can you make sure you’re getting quality, yet affordable braces near you? At Kids City Dental, we work closely with families to make orthodontic therapy as affordable as possible.
First, our financial coordinators will connect with your insurance carrier — if applicable — to determine what orthodontic benefits are included in your plan. Sometimes there are age requirements or other criteria. Next, they take our recommended treatment plan and incorporate your benefits into the fee breakdown. From there, you’re able to see the total remaining fee after your estimated insurance payment.
Although the cost of braces varies from one child to the next, the remaining balance can easily be paid on a month-to-month basis throughout the duration of your child’s treatment. This option ensures that our Brighton braces are as affordable and accessible as possible to the children who need them.
Find Braces and a Pediatric Dentist Near Me
Kids City Dental offers braces near you with a friendly team your kids will love to visit! Our in-house orthodontic options make comprehensive pediatric dentistry accessible to children of all ages.
To find out whether your child needs braces or how much the process will cost, we encourage you to schedule a no-fuss consultation at our practice in Brighton. New patients are always welcome!
