Your child’s smile matters, and choosing the right orthodontist shouldn’t feel stressful. With over 30 years of experience, families across the OKC metro have trusted Orthodontic Associates with their kids’ orthodontic care, and our board-certified orthodontists treat kids, teens and adults at every stage. Bringing your child to the orthodontist can feel overwhelming, which is why we’ve built a warm, kid-friendly space at our Edmond office location where young patients feel comfortable from their very first visit.
What Is Kids’ Orthodontic Treatment?
Kids’ orthodontic treatment is specialized dental care that evaluates and corrects tooth and jaw alignment during your child’s critical growth years. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation by age 7, when enough permanent teeth are present for our board-certified orthodontists to identify developing issues with jaw growth, bite alignment, and emerging teeth before they become more serious.
Here’s something many parents don’t realize: orthodontists can actually recognize malocclusions (bite problems) in kids as young as 2 or 3 years old. Early identification means we can often prevent more complex issues down the road.
Our board-certified orthodontists at Orthodontic Associates in Edmond provide youth treatment options including modern braces, Invisalign for Kids, and palatal expanders. Your child’s treatment will typically fall into one of three stages:
- Stage I (Early Treatment): Ages 6–9, focusing on interceptive care to guide jaw development
- Stage II (Mixed Dentition): When your child has both baby teeth and permanent teeth, usually ages 9–12
- Stage III (Adolescent Treatment): Full orthodontic treatment once most permanent teeth have erupted
Each stage serves a specific purpose, and not every child needs all three. That’s why the initial evaluation matters so much.
What Are the Benefits of Early Orthodontic Care for Kids?
Starting orthodontic care at the right time can make a real difference in your child’s oral health and confidence. At Orthodontic Associates in Edmond, we catch problems early so we can work with your child’s natural growth patterns rather than against them.
- Guides healthy jaw development. Early treatment helps direct jaw growth, which can correct or prevent bite problems like crossbites, underbites, and overbites. Working with growing bones is much easier than trying to correct fully developed jaws later.
- Protects teeth from injury. Kids with protruding front teeth face a higher risk of dental trauma during sports and play. Bringing those teeth into proper alignment reduces their vulnerability to chips, cracks, and breaks.
- Makes room for permanent teeth. Crowding is one of the most common orthodontic issues we see, and early intervention can create space for permanent teeth to come in properly. This lowers the chance of impaction or severe crowding that requires extraction later.
- What about future treatment? When we address foundational issues early, your child’s teen treatment tends to be shorter and less complex. Many of our Edmond families find this means less time in braces for kids during those busy high school years.
- Builds confidence. A healthier smile does more than improve oral function. Kids who feel good about their smiles often show increased self-esteem and confidence in social situations. The team at Orthodontic Associates sees this every day. Straightening teeth transforms lives.
How Kids’ Orthodontic Treatment Works at Our Edmond Office
Here’s how the process works for kids and parents at our Edmond office location. We’ve kept things simple so you always know what comes next.
- Free New Smile Assessment
- Custom treatment plan
- Stage I interceptive treatment (if needed)
- Stage II monitoring and guidance
- Stage III full treatment
- Retainer care to protect results
Step 1: Free New Smile Assessment
Everything starts with a thorough exam at our Edmond office location. This includes low-radiation digital x-rays that give us a full picture of your child’s teeth, jaw, and developing permanent teeth. No cost, no obligation. All smile assessments are free and include x-rays.
Step 2: Custom Treatment Plan
Based on what we find, our board-certified orthodontists will walk through your options, whether that’s modern braces, Invisalign for Kids, palatal expanders, or a combination. You’ll leave knowing the recommended timeline, what each option involves, and exactly what it will cost.
Step 3: Stage I Interceptive Treatment (Ages 6–9)
Not every child needs this phase. For those who do, we address jaw discrepancies and create better conditions for permanent tooth eruption, focusing on specific problems rather than full alignment.
Steps 4 & 5: Monitoring Through Full Treatment
During the mixed dentition phase, we monitor your child’s growth and guide erupting permanent teeth. Some kids need active treatment here; others just need observation appointments to track progress. These check-ins help us pinpoint the ideal window for full treatment, saving you time and money. Once most permanent teeth have emerged, we complete alignment with full modern braces or Invisalign for Teens, giving your teen a smile they actually feel great about.
Step 6: Keeping That Smile
Results don’t maintain themselves. Our Vivera Retainer Subscription helps protect your child’s investment in their smile for years to come.
Is Your Child a Candidate for Orthodontic Treatment?
Your child may be a candidate for orthodontic treatment at Orthodontic Associates if they show signs of crowding, bite misalignment, jaw clicking, or prolonged thumb-sucking habits. The AAO recommends evaluation by age 7, even if no visible problems exist, because many orthodontic issues develop beneath the surface before parents notice anything wrong. An early visit to our orthodontist for kids in Edmond gives us the chance to catch these issues at the right time.
Here are specific signs that suggest bringing your child in for an assessment:
Tooth alignment concerns
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Teeth that don’t come together properly when biting
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Gaps between teeth
Jaw and bite issues
- Jaw shifting or clicking sounds
- Crossbite, overbite, or underbite
- Difficulty chewing or biting food
Habits and breathing patterns
- Thumb sucking past age 5
- Mouth breathing during the day or while sleeping
- Speech difficulties
We offer a free Your New Smile Assessment to determine if your child is ready for treatment. Our board-certified orthodontists will give you honest guidance about whether now is the right time or if watchful waiting makes more sense.
Why Edmond Families Choose Orthodontic Associates
Families throughout the OKC metro trust us with their kids’ smiles, and that trust means everything to our team. Here’s what sets our Edmond practice apart.
Specialized experience with young patients
The orthodontists at our practice focus specifically on youth treatment. They know how to explain procedures in kid-friendly terms, keep kids comfortable during appointments, and make every visit a positive one.
Technology that puts kids (and parents) at ease
Low-radiation digital x-rays provide excellent diagnostic images while minimizing exposure. Digital 3D Smile Scan technology lets kids and parents see your new smile projected before treatment even begins.
Every child gets a different recommendation
Because every child is different. With modern braces, Invisalign for Kids, palatal expanders, and bite correction appliances available, we recommend what’s truly best for your child rather than applying a generic plan.
Convenient location and flexible scheduling
Convenient location and flexible scheduling work around school calendars. Invisalign Virtual Care options mean some check-ins don’t require an office visit at all. And the office itself? It’s designed to reduce anxiety and help kids feel at ease, with a space that feels more like a hangout than a clinic. Happy patients equal happy orthodontists, and working with kids is genuinely the best part of what we do.
As members of the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Board of Orthodontics, our team maintains the highest standards in pediatric orthodontic care.
Schedule Your Child’s Free Smile Assessment in Edmond Today
Your kid’s smile is worth getting right. The Edmond team at Orthodontic Associates is here to help you figure out the best next step, and we’re all about helping you love your smile. That starts with expert care from our board-certified orthodontists.
Book your complimentary Your New Smile Assessment today. There’s no obligation and no pressure. Just honest guidance about your child’s orthodontic needs from a team that specializes in helping kids feel comfortable and confident.
Call us or schedule online at our website. The Edmond office location welcomes families from throughout Oklahoma, and we also have convenient locations in Mustang and Oklahoma City. All practices are locally owned and operated.
Ready to find out what’s going on with your child’s bite? Your first visit is on us, and the whole thing takes about an hour. We can’t wait to meet your family.