It is common for parents to wonder if their child or teenager needs braces as they are growing up, which often leads to a consultation with an orthodontist such as Dr. Ryan Redford or Dr. Michael Burke.
Burke & Redford Orthodontists have provided comprehensive care for over 30 years in the Inland Empire, ensuring children and teenagers achieve healthy, functional, and beautiful smiles.
Optimal Age for Orthodontic Assessment and Treatment
Early orthodontic assessment, ideally around age 7 to 8, can significantly influence a child’s oral health trajectory. This early assessment allows for timely intervention, harnessing the growth phases to correct developmental concerns. Benefits of such proactive care include:
– Minimizing more complex treatments later.
– Guiding jaw growth and tooth eruption to optimize alignment.
– Preventing complications associated with untreated orthodontic issues.
Dr. Redford and Dr. Burke tailor their approach to each child’s unique needs, often leading to more efficient and less invasive treatments.
Consequences of Untreated Orthodontic Issues
Ignoring orthodontic problems can lead to complications beyond just esthetics, including:
– Increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease due to difficulty in cleaning misaligned teeth.
– Teeth becoming impacted underneath the gumline leading to the need for surgical recovery of these teeth.
– Jaw relationships that require surgical intervention to correct.
– Negative impact on self-esteem and social interactions due to cosmetic concerns.
Dr. Redford and Dr. Burke emphasize preventative and timely care to avert such long-term issues, ensuring children and teenagers not only look their best but also enjoy optimal oral health.
Identifying the Need for Braces
The pathway to an excellent smile often begins with recognizing the signs that braces might be needed. Common indicators include:
Crowding (Type of Malocclusion: Dental Crowding)
Description: Teeth are cramped or overlapping due to limited space in the jaw. This condition can lead to difficulty in cleaning, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Treatment Options:
– Self-Ligating Metal Braces: Often used for moderate to severe crowding due to their strength and durability.
– Clear Aligners: Suitable for mild to moderate crowding, providing a less visible treatment option.
– Expanders: In some cases, especially in children, palatal expanders are used to widen the jaw and create space for teeth alignment.
– Space Maintainers: In young children, space maintainers can be used to limit the amount of crowding as their mouths transition from baby teeth to adult teeth, decreasing the need for permanent tooth extraction to resolve crowding when they are older.
Gaps (Type of Malocclusion: Diastema or Spacing)
Description: Visible spaces between teeth that can affect both the function and esthetics of the smile.
Treatment Options:
– Braces (Metal or Ceramic): Effective in closing gaps by gradually moving teeth closer together.
– Clear Aligners: Can be effective in closing spaces, depending on the severity of the spacing present.
Overbite (Type of Malocclusion: Vertical and/or Horizontal Overlap)
Description: The upper front teeth significantly overlap the lower front teeth either in the vertical or horizontal direction, which can lead to wear on the lower teeth and difficulty chewing.
Treatment Options:
– Traditional or Self-Ligating Braces: Often combined with other orthodontic appliances to correct the bite.
– Herbst Appliance: May be used in conjunction with braces in growing children and teenagers to encourage jaw growth and reduce horizontal overbite.
Underbite (Type of Malocclusion: Anterior Crossbite)
Description: The lower front teeth protrude past the upper front teeth, affecting the facial profile and causing uneven wear and tear on teeth.
Treatment Options:
– Expander with Reverse-Pull Face Mask: Common in children ages 7-10 years old to encourage the upper jaw to grow forward.
– Traditional or Self-Ligating Braces: Often combined with elastic wear and sometimes extraction of teeth to correct the bite.
– Surgical Orthodontics: In severe cases or in adults where jaw growth is complete, combined orthodontic and surgical treatment may be necessary.
Difficulty Chewing or Biting (Indicative of Functional Malocclusion)
Description: Challenges with eating can indicate underlying bite problems, where the teeth do not fit together correctly during mouth closure.
Treatment Options:
– Customized Braces: To move teeth into the correct position for an efficient bite.
– Specialized Appliances: Like bite blocks or temporary anchorage devices (TADs), might be used to correct bite issues and improve function.
Dr. Ryan Redford or Dr. Burke will conduct a thorough evaluation during your consultation to identify these issues, leveraging their extensive experience to recommend the most effective treatment plan.
How much do braces cost and what are my financing options?
Burke & Redford Orthodontists welcome a variety of PPO insurance plans, and while they are participating providers for Delta Dental and United Concordia, they encourage requesting a complimentary consultation regardless of your insurance as they can accept assignment of benefits from nearly all plans.
The orthodontic insurance billing experts in our office specialize in maximizing benefits to make orthodontic treatments more accessible and affordable.
Key Financial and Insurance Details:
– Acceptance of benefits from all PPO insurances.
– Military discount available for those with Tricare coverage.
– We DO NOT Accept HMO/managed care plans and Medi-Cal.
– Various payment options are available, including Visa® and Mastercard®, interest-free payment plans (if qualified), and family discounts.
– Insurance claims are filed on behalf of patients to streamline the process.
– We offer flexible scheduling, experienced staff, and facilities that are handicapped accessible.
For active duty military personnel, it is recommended to apply for the Tricare Dental Program (TDP) via United Concordia Dental, which offers extensive benefits. Retired military and current government or civil service employees are advised to explore the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) with United Concordia, offering significant orthodontic coverage.
Burke & Redford Orthodontists express gratitude towards service members and aim to assist them in fully utilizing their benefits. New patients are prompted to complete insurance forms online through a secure, HIPAA-compliant system before their appointment, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.
For more information or to verify insurance acceptance, patients are encouraged to contact Burke & Redford Orthodontists directly during business hours.
Patients Choose Dr. Ryan Redford and Dr. Burke
Parents recognizing the need for expert orthodontic care should consider Burke & Redford Orthodontists for a comprehensive evaluation. Contact them today to discuss the most suitable orthodontic treatments, ensuring your child or teenager enjoys both a confident smile and robust dental health.
Here are our contact details for your convenience:
Address: 41238 Margarita Rd Ste 101, Temecula, CA 92591
Phone: (951) 699-8011
Office Hours: M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Lake Elsinore Orthodontist Office
Address: 351 Railroad Canyon Rd Ste C, Lake Elsinore, CA 92532
Phone: (951) 699-8011
Office Hours: Open 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.