While your child’s first visit to the dentist should be around the age of one, figuring out their first trip to the orthodontist is a little more tricky. Are you thinking about taking your child to a Raleigh orthodontist, but you don’t know what to expect?

Many parents or guardians are concerned with the details of preparing their children for their first orthodontic trip.

If you’re ready to take your child to the orthodontist, here are some things you need to know.

1. Talk to Your Child

When preparing your child for their first visit, it’s important that you talk to them about it. They might be feeling nervous, excited, and so forth. Be sure to answer all their questions as they arise.

Explain to your child that many children visit the orthodontist and this is a normal part of growing up. Having a healthy mouth and straighter teeth is vital to their health. While it may take a few years to achieve these results, it will be worth it in the end.

2. Explain Expectations

Going to the orthodontist might be scary for some children and they need to be reassured about what to expect.

While you don’t know exactly what will happen at the appointment, you can encourage them that they will likely meet the orthodontist, get x-rays, molds, have an examination, have pictures taken, and so forth. All of these methods are used so the orthodontist can see where there are problems and assess the best treatment plan for them.

3. Meet the Orthodontist

If your child is particularly nervous, it might be a good idea to meet the orthodontist first before the actual appointment. Explain to your child that an orthodontist is similar to a dentist, but has different training to make their teeth look better.

If possible, see if you can schedule an appointment with the orthodontist as a type of “get to know you” appointment before going to the first exam. This may make things easier on your child, which in turn, makes it easier for you.

4. Stages

Sometimes children are not ready for braces. In other words, they need orthodontic work to align their jaw or bite before they can get braces.

When you show up for your child’s first orthodontic visit, the orthodontist may recommend treatment or phases. This means that your child will need other types of orthodontic work before braces. Treatments like lip bumpers, headgear, and others will help prepare your child for braces.

What You Should Expect

Many parents are just as concerned about their child’s first trip to the orthodontist as the children are. However, while children need to be reassured that the orthodontist is a safe place to be, parents need other information.

Here is some information that is helpful to remember before your child’s appointment

As previously mentioned, the first visit for your child is to evaluate what type of orthodontic work they need. Not every child needs the same treatment plan, and it will need to be completed before your child is evaluated for braces. This could take a few years, depending on what needs to be done.

You should also expect your orthodontist to have a consultation with you once they’ve examined your child’s case. At this consultation, they’ll share the treatment plan with you, explain the goals, talk about finances, and ask you when and if you’re ready to begin treatment. This consultation may take place a few weeks after the initial appointment to give the orthodontist time to consider treatment plans.

At the consultation, you’ll likely discuss financial options for braces. While this number may seem scary and impossible, don’t feel pressured into making any decisions without weight the financial cost. Many orthodontists want you to be able to afford the procedure, so they offer financing options for you.

Questions to Ask Your Orthodontist

A trip to the orthodontist isn’t complete without asking a few questions about your child and their treatment.

Try to prepare a list of questions that are important for you to know ahead of time. Questions will likely naturally arise at the consultation as well.

Some questions might be:

• How long with the treatment take?
• What can I expect during the treatment?
• Will the treatment change?
• How often do I need to come back for appointments or check-ups?
• What should I expect when the treatment is over?
• My child has special needs. How are those accommodated?
• Do you communicate with my child’s dentist about their treatment?
• What type of treatments are recommended and what are they? What’s the purpose?
• What’s the end goal of this particular treatment?
• What’s expected of my child during this time?

These are just some of the questions you can ask. Be sure to think about what you’d like clarified before you move ahead with orthodontic work for your child.

You also might be wondering what to take to the orthodontist. The only thing you may need to bring is a driver’s license or other proof of identity, insurance card, or paperwork. The best thing to do is to contact the orthodontist’s office and ask what you need to bring.

Finding A Raleigh Orthodontist

Going to the first orthodontist visit can be a little scary and unsure for both child and parent. However, the staff at Carolina Braces can answer your questions, help you feel comfortable and confident, so you can enjoy your visit to a Raleigh orthodontist.

Do you have more questions or concerns about orthodontics for your child? Schedule an appointment with us today to get your questions answered!