Early Orthodontic Treatment
- Guide your child's smile at just the right time
- Create room for permanent teeth as they grow
- Simplify or shorten treatment needed down the road
$159 New Patient Exam & Teeth Cleaning
View All Our Offers
Give Your Child a Healthy Start With Early Orthodontic Treatment in Jacksonville
Catching orthodontic concerns early can make a real difference in your child’s smile. Early treatment — sometimes called interceptive or Phase 1 orthodontics — takes advantage of a child’s natural growth to guide developing teeth and jaws, which can simplify or even shorten treatment down the road. At Dental Center of Jacksonville, we help Jacksonville families give their children a strong foundation for a healthy, confident smile.
Because we care for patients from age 6 on up, our team is well positioned to watch your child’s smile as it grows — and when orthodontic treatment is called for, it’s guided by Dr. Shreya Iyengar, the orthodontist at Dental Center of Jacksonville. With a Master of Dental Surgery in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics and experience in functional corrections and growth modulation, Dr. Iyengar is well versed in guiding developing smiles at just the right time. Her warm, patient chairside manner helps young patients feel at ease, and using digital X-rays and 3-D imaging, we can spot developing concerns early and recommend care only when it will truly benefit your child.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by around age 7. At this age, early treatment may help:
- Guide jaw growth to create room for permanent teeth
- Reduce the risk of crowding as adult teeth come in
- Correct harmful habits such as thumb sucking
- Improve the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
- Simplify or shorten any orthodontic treatment needed later
Call 904-815-0525 to schedule your child’s evaluation.
What to Expect With Early Treatment
Not every child needs early treatment, and our first goal is always to determine whether care is truly necessary. During your child’s visit, Dr. Iyengar will:
- Evaluate Growth – We’ll examine how your child’s teeth and jaws are developing and look for concerns that are easier to address now than later.
- Recommend a Plan – If treatment will help, we’ll explain your options clearly; if it’s better to wait and watch, we’ll tell you that too.
- Monitor Over Time – For many children, the best approach is simply keeping an eye on things during regular checkups until the timing is right.
Our welcoming environment — complete with soft pillows, warm blankets, and TVs — helps make every visit a positive experience for your child.
“With children, timing is everything. Guiding growth at the right moment can prevent bigger problems down the road — but part of my job as an orthodontist is also knowing when it’s best to simply wait and watch.” — Dr. Iyengar
To schedule your child’s orthodontic evaluation in Jacksonville, call Dental Center of Jacksonville today at 904-815-0525. You can also make an appointment online.
Do you treat the whole family?
Common Questions About Early Orthodontic Treatment
-
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an evaluation by around age 7, when early signs of alignment concerns often become visible.
-
Not always. Early treatment can simplify or shorten later care, but some children still benefit from braces once their permanent teeth come in.
-
Early or late loss of baby teeth, crowding, difficulty chewing, mouth breathing, or thumb sucking can all be worth evaluating. When in doubt, an exam is the best step.
-
Most early treatments are gentle and well tolerated. Any soreness is usually mild and temporary, and our team keeps your child comfortable throughout.
-
That’s a common and welcome outcome. We’ll simply monitor your child’s growth during regular visits and let you know if and when treatment becomes helpful.
-
Yes. We care for patients from age 6 on up, making it easy to keep your family’s smiles healthy in one convenient location.