Kids’ orthodontics
Pediatric orthodontists in Fredericksburg and Stafford
When it comes to your child’s dental health, seeing a kids’ orthodontist earlier rather than later ensures their smile is bright and beautiful throughout their life. Scheduling a complimentary initial evaluation for your child by age 7 allows Dr. Caspersen or Dr. Lowe, our pediatric orthodontists near you in Fredericksburg and Stafford, Virginia, to monitor your child’s bite and suggest interceptive/early orthodontic treatment if necessary. While most kids don’t need early treatment, it’s important to have your child evaluated as it can help prevent more extensive orthodontic issues in the future if it is needed.
Benefits of seeing a pediatric orthodontist
Reduced stress: With years of training and experience, our orthodontists for kids will understand and acknowledge any concerns your child may have and can help put them at ease.
Specialized training: Pediatric orthodontists receive specialized training in working with children’s jaws and teeth to provide safe, effective and comfortable solutions.
Awareness of childhood habits: Certain behaviors, such as thumb-sucking, can lead to dental issues later in your child’s life. Our pediatric orthodontists understand these habits and offer solutions to improve your child’s oral health.
Understanding of growth and changes: Your child’s jaw does not fully fuse until after puberty, causing it to change during childhood and adolescence. Our kids’ orthodontists are familiar with the many growth stages your child may go through and can help them achieve a healthy smile at every point.
Early orthodontic treatment
Many people assume that kids’ braces are only for correcting misaligned teeth. While braces straighten smiles, they also improve your child’s overall oral health.
Due to advances in orthodontic technology, many children today receive braces or other orthodontic appliances before their teenage years to help improve their smiles. A significant benefit of receiving orthodontic treatment in childhood is that it’s possible to take full advantage of a child’s natural growth process to treat or prevent malocclusions (“bad bites”).
Metal braces
Metal braces are ideal for many kids and teens due to their reduced treatment time and enhanced durability. Whether your child has a minor or severe misalignment, traditional braces are an effective treatment option. Metal braces are also durable, allowing your child to participate in sports or rigorous exercise without breaking or damaging their device.
Clear braces
If you’re looking for a discreet braces option for your child or teen, you may wish to consider ceramic clear braces. Each bracket, elastic and archwire in a clear brace system is tooth-colored to allow your child’s braces to blend in with their teeth.
Gold braces
Rappahannock Orthodontics is proud to offer gold bracket braces for patients who want to add a little style to their braces.
Invisalign®
Popular with teens as they are removable and discreet, the Invisalign® clear aligner system straightens teeth over time using a series of clear plastic trays.
While braces and Invisalign® are reliable treatment options, your child’s smile may need additional support with an orthodontic expander. Palatal expanders create more space in a child’s mouth by gradually widening the upper jaw, as the upper jaw (maxilla) develops as two separate halves that don’t completely fuse until sometime after puberty. Before that happens, the two bones can gently be separated and stabilized over several months.
Fixed palatal crib
If your child has a thumb or finger-sucking habit that has persisted past age three, we may treat them with a fixed palatal crib. The semicircular wires of the palatal crib keep the thumb or finger from touching the gums behind the front teeth. Simply preventing this contact seems to take all the enjoyment away from the thumb-sucking habit — and without that pleasurable feedback, a child has no reason to continue the behavior.
A Herbst appliance corrects orthodontic issues caused by uneven jaw development. This appliance uses gentle force over time to promote growth in the lower jaw while slowing down the development of the upper jaw. In turn, this will help children develop a better bite overall. While traditional braces are exceptional at straightening teeth, some children have bite problems due to their upper and lower jaws growing at different rates.
How much do braces cost for kids?
The cost of braces for kids depends on the complexity of their orthodontic issues, the type of braces they choose, and whether your dental insurance plan covers kids’ braces. To determine the exact cost of your child’s orthodontic treatment, we advise scheduling a complimentary consultation with our pediatric orthodontists at Rappahannock Orthodontics, serving Fredericksburg and Stafford, Virginia. After evaluating your child’s orthodontic needs, if treatment is necessary, our orthodontic specialists will present a comprehensive treatment plan and review all costs with you before beginning treatment. Rappahannock Orthodontics offers various flexible payment options to accommodate your needs.
Schedule a complimentary consultation!
When you choose Rappahannock Orthodontics as your kids’ orthodontist, you can be confident you will receive expert and attentive care. We offer complimentary orthodontic evaluations for all new patients and various treatment options to meet each patient’s needs. We will personalize your child or teen’s braces treatment to ensure they are comfortable. Our pediatric orthodontists have years of experience helping our youngest patients feel at ease, and we are looking forward to making your child’s smile shine.
At our two convenient family orthodontist offices in Fredericksburg and Stafford, Virginia, we are your source for world-class orthodontic services at a local level. To learn more about our services, schedule a complimentary consultation with our kids’ orthodontists near you today!
