The Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have an early orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Having an early consultation with a docbraces Orthodontist can help your child avoid more complex and expensive treatments later in life, and in some cases, can eliminate the need for braces altogether. Patients with more complex cases or oral habits such as thumb-sucking can benefit dramatically from an early phase of treatment, preventing the need for more invasive treatment later.
We get it. Not everyone loves the idea of coming to the Orthodontist. But we promise that your first visit with docbraces will be very exciting!
When you and your child come for your first visit, you will be greeted by one of our warm and friendly team members. Getting to know our space is important for your child to feel comfortable, and our team members are always available to answer any questions you or your child might have. During your consultation with our Orthodontist, digital x-rays and pictures will be taken of your child’s teeth and jaws, followed by a detailed examination. The Orthodontist will use the digital x-rays along with his or her visual exam findings to develop a treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs.
Once a treatment plan is decided upon, the docbraces team will answer any questions that you may have and review financing options to find a solution that fits your budget. Once all of the details are finalized, treatment can begin – even on the same day – and your child will be on their way to having a happy, healthy smile.
Your docbraces team always has your child’s best interests at heart. If your child is not considered to be at the appropriate stage in their development to begin treatment, they will be placed into the docbraces “later gator” program. As a “later gator,” your child’s development will be monitored through regularly scheduled visits until it is determined that they are ready to begin treatment.
If your child is a candidate for early intervention, they will most likely start at what is known as “Phase 1.” Though each phase will be different for every child, Phase 1 usually involves a dental appliance (palatal expanders or space maintainers), which is used to improve the alignment and development of jaws, create space for adult teeth, and reduce crowding. Dental appliances can also help with correcting harmful oral habits and speech impediments as well as improve the ease of breathing. Following the completion of Phase 1, your child will be regularly monitored by our Orthodontists to determine if and when full braces or Invisalign are required to completely align any remaining teeth and bite issues.
Orthodontists are specially trained to diagnose, prevent, and correct misaligned teeth and jaws.
At docbraces, our team of orthodontic specialists are solely focused on providing quality care that gives our patients peace of mind and confidence in their choice of treatment.
To help make life a little easier, the docbraces team offers to accept assignment of insurance benefits for patients whose insurance policy includes orthodontic coverage. This means that you don’t have to go through the hassle of submitting insurance claims and waiting for reimbursement, because we do it for you, and subtract the insurance amount from your treatment cost right away!
Take advantage of this service by providing us with your insurance information when you come in for your consultation. With this information, we can communicate with your insurance provider and determine if your policy includes orthodontic coverage, the amount covered by your policy, and whether or not you are able to assign benefits to a third party.
What is the right age to bring my child for an orthodontic consultation?
The guideline set out by the Canadian Association of Orthodontists states that children should see an Orthodontist for an early orthodontic evaluation by the time they turn seven. By this point, a child’s jaw and teeth will have formed enough so that any developing issues are obvious, and an Orthodontist will be able to identify what treatment, if any, will be beneficial. For most patients, treatment won’t start until well after age seven. You don’t need a referral to have your child assessed by a docbraces Orthodontist.
Are there any signs I might notice in my child’s development that can indicate a possible orthodontic issue?
There are several clues that can help you recognize whether or not your child may be suffering from developmental issues with their teeth or jaws, including: development of poor habits like finger or thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting, mouth breathing or breathing with greater difficulty than should be expected, delayed or impeded speech, crowding of teeth on the upper or lower jaw, crooked eruption of adult teeth, premature loss of baby teeth, headaches, an obvious overbite or underbite.
Does docbraces offer payment plans?
We sure do! docbraces’ goal is to make orthodontic treatment accessible and affordable for everyone who requires it. Your local docbraces team will work with you to find a flexible, interest-free financing plan that meets your needs, with no credit checks required. docbraces will not let finances stand in the way of providing the treatment you or your loved one needs or deserves.