Braces for Children

Friendly Early Orthodontics in San Pedro

Your child deserves a smile that not only lights up their face but also lays the foundation for a lifetime of good dental health. At the practice of Louis F Mascola, DDS, we understand the significance of your child's formative years and are committed to offering quality early orthodontics in San Pedro.

We pride ourselves on using a kid-friendly approach, helping your child feel safe and comfortable. By creating a positive experience with our kind and gentle attitude, we aim to make it easy for your child to have a healthy smile today and in the future. To take the first step towards your child's healthy smile, we offer a free initial consultation to assess their unique needs. Contact us today to schedule your child's first appointment!

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What Is Early Orthodontics?

Early orthodontics is a way of addressing dental alignment issues before your child has all their adult teeth. The goal of pediatric orthodontic care is to minimize bite, jaw, and alignment problems while encouraging correct development. Our dentist can help make room for your child's permanent teeth and potentially reduce the need for extensive treatment in the future. By working closely with you, we can help guide your child's jaws into a healthy, uniform shape. Early orthodontics typically comes in two phases.

The goal of Phase One is to create a strong foundation for your child's oral health, usually around age six or seven. We focus on preparing their jaw for adult teeth and may use various appliances depending on your child's particular needs. If your child receives early intervention, it can potentially reduce the length of treatment during phase two.

After a rest period, Phase Two begins around age ten or eleven. We focus on creating healthy, sustainable alignment that will last into adulthood. This stage is where we might use braces or Invisalign® treatment to achieve an optimal bite.

Orthodontic Exams to Determine Your Child's Needs

We recommend bringing your child for an evaluation by the time they are seven years old. If their teeth are visibly misaligned earlier than this, it's a sign that early orthodontic intervention may be necessary. While some misalignments are not serious, your child could have a less obvious issue that our orthodontic exams can catch before it becomes a larger problem. Even if your child doesn't need early intervention, you will have peace of mind that you are being proactive and that their jaw is developing properly.

During our thorough examination, we will take a comprehensive look at your child's smile to get a better understanding of how it's developing. Our dentist will examine their teeth and jaw both visually and below the surface using x-rays and other diagnostic tools. We value keeping you and our young patients informed, including explaining potential future issues and your treatment options.

Tools To Help Align Your Child's Smile

If we determine that early treatment is the best option for your child, we then focus on deciding which treatment option will give your child the best results. Their comfort throughout the process is important to us. Hopefully, creating a positive experience at the dentist will encourage your child to continue to care for their oral health for life. We use an iTero™ intraoral scanner to take quick, accurate scans of your child's mouth. Our practice is also equipped to take traditional impressions if necessary. We offer clear aligners and braces as treatment options and will discuss with you which is right for your child's needs.

Invisalign Treatment: For responsible kids or teens, we typically offer Invisalign clear aligners first for their discreet appearance and comfort.
Traditional Braces: If your child has more complex issues or is unable to keep up with Invisalign treatment, braces may be the right option.

Once treatment is complete, a custom retainer will help keep your child's teeth in place as they settle. Regardless of what treatment plan we move forward with, we will work closely with you and your child and continue to keep you well-informed throughout the process. This includes providing detailed instructions for how your child should care for their smile during treatment and addressing any questions or concerns as they arise.

Reliable Early Orthodontics in San Pedro

Your child's smile is a blueprint for their adult teeth, and they deserve a dentist who understands the significance of early care to support their development. At the practice of Louis F Mascola, DDS, we can help treat alignment issues while your child's jaw is still developing, preventing more difficult and costly treatments in the future.

We're passionate about creating straighter, happier, and healthier smiles with early orthodontics in San Pedro. Our practice is designed with your child in mind, creating a kid-friendly atmosphere that makes them feel safe and comfortable throughout their orthodontic journey. If you're looking for a dentist who can support your child's smile, call us to schedule a free initial consultation today!