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Braces For Kids In Maryland

Home » Braces » Braces For Kids In Maryland

Early Treatment With Braces For Kids

At What Age Should My Child See An Orthodontist?

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, seven years old is the perfect age for a child’s first orthodontic screening—about the same time many kids get their first adult molars. Why so young, you ask? Because at that age, it is easier to correct any concerning issues while the mouth is still growing and the body can adapt to changes. In most cases, you can prevent relatively simple problems from turning into major ordeals by intervening with early orthodontic treatment, also known as Phase I Treatment.

Early orthodontic screening also leaves room for planning. Whether or not a child receives immediate treatment, the doctors at Labbe Family Orthodontics can start to monitor your child’s development by scheduling regular and timely appointments. For example, we may ask you to come in every 6-8 months for one of our doctors to give a thorough oral exam. This way, we can administer the right treatment at the right time, allowing the child will get the most out of it. Don’t worry… there is no charge until the actual treatment begins.

Plus, we have FUN! We love getting to know our families and building relationships! We go above and beyond to make sure that your child has a memorable, comfortable, and enjoyable orthodontic journey.

When Is Early Intervention Or Phase I Treatment Necessary?

There are a few stand-out reasons that Phase I treatment would be beneficial. For example, if the patient has:

  • A crossbite
  • An underbite
  • Thumb or finger sucking habit
  • Consistent mouth breathing
  • An overbite or overjet
  • Severe crowding of the teeth
  • Prematurely loss of baby teeth or missing permanent teeth
  • A tongue thrust

Our goal is to prevent the extraction of permanent teeth. With Phase I treatment, we are often able to create the room necessary or correct the issues that would warrant extractions.

What Is The Average Treatment Time For Phase I Treatment?

Typically, treatment time for Phase I is about a year. If the patient is cooperative, has good hygiene, and takes care of the appliances, treatment will go smoothly, and the necessary corrections can be made in 12 – 15 months. After active Phase I treatment, a retainer is worn to maintain arch width and hold the teeth in place while the permanent teeth are erupting. What’s really cool is that we can see our “Resting Phase” patients while they are at home using our latest “Dental Monitoring” technology. This saves you time and trips to the office by monitoring growth and development remotely.

Life With Braces

The goal of braces is to work to correct and improve your child’s smile function, health, and appearance while blending in with their active lifestyle. While there is a short adjustment period, we find that most of our younger patients adapt to wearing their braces faster than our adult patients!

During this adjustment phase, your child may experience some temporary soreness and discomfort as their mouth adjusts to their teeth beginning to shift and having a new appliance in their mouth. However, this soreness can be relieved by eating soft foods and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, if needed. We will also give your child braces wax to apply over any areas that may be causing irritation to the inside of the lips.

Throughout treatment, it will be imperative that your child understand how to properly care for their braces. Avoiding any hard, sticky, and chewy foods that could damage or break the brackets and wires is key to preventing unnecessary emergency trips to our office. Additionally, it is important to remind your child that they can’t skimp on dental hygiene. Thoroughly brushing and flossing regularly, especially after meals, helps to ensure that their teeth stay bright and clean during treatment.

Labbe Team
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Today’s a great day to learn more about orthodontic care and how we can help you change your life by changing your smile.

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what to expect
Our 5-Star Experience

Hear what our patients are saying about their experience with our doctors and team. We can’t wait to provide you with the same level of care!

Smilling Girl
Tyler S.
I really like this place the braces have acually worked unlike other places and the community is fun to be around
Uyen J.
Great office, everyone is super friendly. Convenient for kids coming directly from school, they provide space for them to brush/rinse before their appointment.
Brenda P.
Thank you, Dr. Miller and the entire team, for your outstanding care and professionalism. I truly appreciate the kindness, patience, and expert treatment you provide every visit—it makes a world of difference!
Shannon W.
Absolutely amazing staff and doctors! They have been amazingly professional each time we visit. I truly wish this could be our permanent dentist. We couldn’t have had a better experience for my daughter’s braces from beginning to end. I would refer them to anyone who is looking to get braces whether adults or children. Just an overall wonderful experience. Truly hard to find experiences like this!
Jason M.
Wonderful practice. My son looks forward to the visits. Very warm, welcoming and family oriented.
Nikki J.
Best Part!!! They care! Service: You will be in and out. All of the offices are ran like a well oiled machine. My smile will thank them forever.
John D.
Labbe Family Orthodontics is an outstanding office, with an exceptional team - from the friendly front office to the skilled orthodontists, everyone is always eager to assist and accommodate all patients. This goes without exception to Brittany, whose kindness goes above and beyond.

Highly recommend this office for anyone seeking top-notch orthodontic care!
Shannon T.
Labbe Family Orthodontics is a fantastic practice. They took their time and explained everything during our consultation. Tricia was incredibly helpful in explaining payment options and assisting us in determining what coverage we would have if we purchased a supplemental dental plan.
Dan H.
I never thought getting braces for our kids could be a joyful experience until we entered Labbe. We were blessed with an experience that pursued excellence while exhibiting amazing personal and relational care with an injection of authentic joy. Highly recommend!
Debbie S.
I love Labbe they are nice people and they take good care of you I would highly recommend
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Whether you visit our location in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, or Greenbelt, we offer all of the same orthodontic services. You will be treated with the same attention, experience, and high level of quality care. We look forward to serving you and your family soon!

Addresses
  • Annapolis
  • 114 Forbes St.
    Annapolis, MD 21401
  • Bowie
  • 4000 Mitchellville Rd. Suite 316
    Bowie, MD 20716
  • Crofton
  • 2630 Brandermill Blvd.
    Gambrills, MD 21054
  • Greenbelt
  • 7525 Greenway Center Dr. Suite 101
    Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone
  • (410) 267-7300
Office Hours
Monday8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday8:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday7:30am – 12:30pm
Addresses
  • Annapolis
  • 114 Forbes St.
    Annapolis, MD 21401
  • Bowie
  • 4000 Mitchellville Rd. Suite 316
    Bowie, MD 20716
  • Crofton
  • 2630 Brandermill Blvd.
    Gambrills, MD 21054
  • Greenbelt
  • 7525 Greenway Center Dr. Suite 101
    Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone
  • (410) 267-7300
Office Hours
Monday8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday8:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday7:30am – 12:30pm
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