The first question most parents ask is "when should my child be evaluated for braces?" The good news is that patients of Children's Dental Village can receive evaluations as part of their semi-annual checkup.
These evaluations help to monitor your child's growth/development and determine whether treatment is needed now or should be delayed until proper growth, tooth eruption, or other factors have occurred. Because patients differ in both physiological tooth development and treatment needs, the goal will be to provide your child with the most appropriate treatment at the most opportune time.
The first appointment varies in length based on the specific treatment plan but generally requires one to two hours for placement of the braces with time to review homecare instructions. Due to the length of this appointment, Dr. Lepetich prefers to schedule in the morning or early afternoon.
After the braces are placed, you can expect to visit the office every 4 to 6 weeks. These appointments allow Dr. Lepetich to monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to the braces. If your child has an appliance, your visits may be more frequent as the appliance is actively creating movement.
As we continue to adapt to the changing nature of Covid-19, our office routinely monitors the Community Level of Covid-19 as part of CDC public indoor guidance/safety protocols. Currently, our community level is HIGH, which means masks are required in our waiting area, and we will continue to follow strict infection control protocol for all exams and procedures.
The health and safety of our patients, families, and team are our top priority. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.