- Welcome to Blooming Smiles
When it comes to your child, we know that you only want the very best for them. At Blooming Smiles, our doctors are ready to give your child the smile that they deserve. But whenever you’re considering beginning orthodontic treatment for your child, we understand that you’ll have many questions on your mind. Don’t worry—you’re not the first parent that has questions spinning in their head about the treatments that their child is about to have. With this in mind, we’ve gone ahead and composed commonly asked questions below so that you can better inform yourself before scheduling your child’s first appointment.
Did you know that orthodontic treatments can begin as early as the age of 7? We’re not saying that an orthodontic treatment like braces can begin at that age, but if your child starts visiting an orthodontist at an early age, they can have the opportunity to get an early start on treatments that will correct dental issues before they worsen. Applying preventative measures to your child’s oral health will ultimately save them from additional pain/discomfort and will save you a lot of time and money down the road.
Your child’s first visit will be a comprehensive one. This simply means that one of our doctors will perform a thorough oral examination during your consultation exam. Either Dr. Sanjideh, Dr. Golian, or Dr. Sánchez will be checking your child’s previous dental history and asking you questions about your child’s health, lifestyle, and as well as some medical questions. Afterwards, one of our orthodontists will sit down with you and give you their feedback on whether or not you should implement any lifestyle or eating habit changes in your child before beginning orthodontic treatment.
The status of your child’s oral health can either be a confirmation of your child’s overall wellbeing or can also indicate underlying health issues. Be sure to ask our doctors if they notice anything unusual that may indicate a health issue or be symptomatic of something else going on with your child that is not dental or orthodontia related.
Regular visits with your child’s dentist are a must. Don’t believe that just because your child is seeing an orthodontist that they don’t have to visit their regular dentist—these two types of doctors have different concentrations and skills that are beneficial to your child. Applying a healthy diet that doesn’t contain too much acid or sugar and proper oral care such as brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash will also help maintain or achieve better oral hygiene.
Your child’s orthodontist will be sure to go over the different timelines and appointment frequency when discussing their different orthodontic treatment options. For instance, if you decide to move forward with orthodontic braces, you should expect to be taking your child to their orthodontist once a month. On the other hand, if you have chosen for your child to receive the Invisalign treatment (must be at least 13 years of age) you’ll likely be visiting your orthodontist once every five to six weeks.
The color of your child’s teeth once their braces come off will be based on how well they took care of their teeth as well as what diet they followed while you were wearing braces. To avoid discoloration, you can cut out/lessen their intake of dark sodas or brightly dyed sports drinks that have too much artificial coloring. Check out our list of foods to avoid so that you can have a better idea of how your child’s diet can change for the better during their orthodontic treatment.
If your child experiences an accident or an injury, don’t hesitate to call us! If you are able to reach us over the phone, we’ll do our best to keep you calm and guide you with steps for an at-home remedy until you are able to bring your child into our office. If for some reason, you cannot reach us right away and you fear for your child’s health, call 911 and/or visit the emergency room as soon as possible!
This is an excellent question especially if your family is trying to stay within a budget. Budget or not however, we understand that you’d still like to improve the quality of your child’s oral health. During your child’s first visit, you as the parent will receive advice on both orthodontic treatments recommended for your child as well as suggested treatments that will help them obtain a more beautiful smile, but aren’t necessary as such. Be sure to clarify with your child’s orthodontist!
Insurance and whether or not they cover specific orthodontic treatments is an especially hot button topic in this day and age. Here at Blooming Smiles, we work tirelessly to confirm whether or not your insurance is accepted. Please keep in mind that if our offices don’t accept your dental insurance, we will always work with our patients’ parents to come up with a payment plan that works for us as well as for their budget.
At Blooming Smiles, we don’t actually endorse any specific dental brands. We do, however, recommend anything that has Fluoride as an active ingredient. This ingredient is important to oral health and has been shown to strengthen teeth! If you are wondering about a product that you’ve seen on the market, but are unsure about whether or not to take the leap and purchase it for your child or any of your family members, feel free to ask one of our doctors during your child’s next orthodontic appointment and we’ll be sure let you know our thoughts!
Hopefully these top ten questions have soothed your parental doubts. But! If they haven’t—our doctors and our knowledgeable staff at our Northridge or Woodland Hills, CA offices are here to answer your questions. Open and honest communication is encouraged in our practice in order to have everyone on the same page and ensure that the patient, your child, is comfortable when visiting us. Feel free to contact us at (818) 727-1800 (Northridge) or (818) 932-9100 (Woodland Hills) or request an appointment online. We invite all your questions and can’t wait to hear from you!