Children's Orthodonticsacross Oakdale, Rocky Point, and East Quogue
When teeth are crowded, spaced, or coming in out of alignment, early orthodontic treatment can help guide your child's smile in the right direction and set them up for a lifetime of healthy development. Our orthodontic care is carefully tailored to children's growing smiles, offering comfortable, effective solutions designed to work with their natural growth.
What is children’s orthodontics?
Children's orthodontics addresses everything from early alignment concerns to full smile transformations, giving your child the proactive care they need for a lifetime of strong oral health. Whether your child needs Phase 1 early interceptive treatment, space maintainers, traditional metal or ceramic braces, or Invisalign, our team offers a full range of orthodontic solutions carefully tailored to their age, growth, and smile goals.
Keeping Care Accessible
We believe that everyone deserves a chance at a healthy smile; and that’s why we do everything we can to make paying for dental care as easy as possible.
Insurance-friendly office
Healthcare financing
In-house payment plans
The benefits of children's orthodontics
Early intervention, lasting results
Addressing alignment and spacing concerns while your child is still growing allows us to guide their smile development at the most effective time, often reducing the need for more extensive treatment later on.
A full range of treatment options
From Phase 1 early interceptive treatment and space maintainers to Invisalign and traditional metal or ceramic braces, we offer orthodontic solutions for every age, stage, and smile goal so your child always has the right option available to them.
Care that grows with your child
Our orthodontic team monitors your child's development over time, adjusting their treatment plan as their smile evolves to make sure they stay on track and finish with results that last a lifetime.
Our Difference
Invisalign
Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually straighten your child's teeth without the brackets and wires of traditional braces, making it a comfortable, flexible option for teens and adults who want effective orthodontic treatment on their own terms.
Space Maintainers
When a baby tooth is lost early, a space maintainer holds the gap open and guides incoming permanent teeth into the correct position, preventing future alignment issues before they have a chance to develop.
Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces are a tried-and-true orthodontic solution that effectively corrects a wide range of alignment and spacing concerns, giving your child a reliable, time-tested path to a healthy, confident smile.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces work just like traditional metal braces but feature tooth-colored brackets that blend naturally with your child's smile, making them a great option for kids and teens who want effective orthodontic treatment with a more subtle, confident look.
Phase 1/Early Interceptive Treatment
Phase 1 orthodontic treatment addresses developing alignment and spacing concerns while baby teeth are still present, giving us the opportunity to guide your child's jaw and tooth development before small issues have a chance to become bigger ones.
iTero Intraoral Scanner
With our iTero intraoral scanner, we can quickly and accurately create 3D images of your child’s teeth, gums, and bite to make treatment planning a breeze.
How it works: The children’s orthodontics process
Consultation
At your consultation, Dr. Erin will determine if treatment is necessary and beneficial for your child. She will examine your child's jaw, dental arches, and teeth to check for early signs of gaps, crowding, and misalignment, and address any oral habits like nail biting, tongue thrusting, and thumb sucking that may be affecting their development. Dr. Erin will also share helpful brushing and flossing techniques to support good oral hygiene and set your child up for a successful treatment outcome.
Impressions and Digital Imaging
Dr. Erin will then take a series of X-rays and impressions to document your child's facial profile as well as any tooth or bite issues, helping her determine if extractions or removable appliances will be necessary, such as a space maintainer, palatal expander, or limited braces. Each case is unique, so while some children benefit from a device used to maintain or move teeth and jaw positions, others see better results when some baby teeth are removed — and Dr. Erin will walk your family through every option so you always feel confident in the path forward.
Appliance Placement or Extraction Treatment
After gathering data and deciding on the best orthodontic treatment for your child, Dr. Erin will securely place either a custom dental appliance or administer any necessary tooth extractions. Once your child's appliance is in place, she will check for proper fit to ensure maximum comfort and make any adjustments needed before you leave the office.
Next Steps
After treatment begins, Dr. Erin will schedule follow-up appointments every 4-8 weeks to monitor your child's progress and make sure everything is moving in the right direction. Children's orthodontic treatment can often be completed in 12-18 months or less, setting your child up to enjoy a strong, healthy smile for life.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out these frequently asked questions, or call us to speak with our team.
If your child shows one or more of the following signs and symptoms, they may be a good candidate for orthodontic treatment:
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Crowded teeth
- Excessively gapped teeth
- Extra or missing teeth
- Excessive thumb, finger, or pacifier sucking
Our team is happy to work directly with you and your child to assess these symptoms before they become severe issues over time
Early treatment can be in a patient’s best interest if their problem is one that could worsen over time and cause severe dental issues in adulthood if left untreated. The goal of children’s orthodontics is to recognize and eliminate these problems as early as possible, so a child’s teeth and jaw can properly grow and maintain space for incoming adult teeth.
While many orthodontic problems are inherited, some are caused by common habits over time, such as thumb sucking, finger sucking, or excessive pacifier use. Other factors such as mouth breathing, dental disease, abnormal swallowing, poor dental hygiene, or early or late loss of baby teeth, accidents, and poor nutrition can alter your child’s teeth and jaw alignment. No matter the cause, our team will cater to your child’s unique needs and teach them healthy habits for a lifetime of optimal oral health.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child’s first check-up should take place before the age of 7 or any time an orthodontic issue is noticed before then. By the age of 7, your child’s mouth holds enough permanent teeth for an orthodontist to gain a strong understanding of your child’s mouth and jaws as they develop. This provides your orthodontist with plenty of information to give your child a tailored treatment.
The cost of children’s orthodontics is different for each patient. Factors that may affect the cost include the severity of your child’s teeth misalignment, appointment and visits, insurance type, and more. The best way to find out how much you’ll pay for your child’s care is to schedule a consultation with your orthodontist.
