Let's Smile! Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics

Services Let's Smile! Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics Offers

Pediatric Service - Our office, as well as the The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a “Dental Home” for your child by one year of age. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.

The Dental Home is intended to provide a place other than the Emergency Room for parents.

You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. If old enough, your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and their staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less to-do concerning the visit, the better.

It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as “needle”, “shot”, “pull”, “drill” or “hurt”. The office makes a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child.

We invite you to stay with your child during the initial examination. During future appointments, we suggest you allow your child to accompany our staff through the dental experience. We can usually establish a closer rapport with your child when you are not present. Our purpose is to gain your child's confidence and overcome apprehension. However, if you choose, you are more than welcome to accompany your child to the treatment room. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception room with a supervising adult.

Orthodontic Service - Thanks to today's technology, patients now have more options when it comes to wearing braces. While regular metal braces are still widely used, clear braces are becoming increasingly popular along with Invisalign.

Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry concerned with building beautiful smiles. Orthodontic treatment can be used to correct malocclusions. This condition, commonly known as “bad bite,” involves teeth that are crooked or crowded. In some cases, this can cause an uneven bite where the upper and lower jaws don't align properly. Correcting the problem can create a great smile that is healthy, easier to clean, and one that will last a lifetime.

When should I see an orthodontist?

There's no set age for when people should start going to the orthodontist, however beginning early can lead to better results in a shorter amount of time and at a lower cost. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that orthodontic treatment begin at the first sign of orthodontic problems or by the age of 7. Beginning at an early age can give you a head start on correcting any problems such as crowding or crossbites. Even if no immediate action is needed, an early visit can give your orthodontist an idea of when to start treatment.

What is the cost of orthodontic treatment?

The cost of orthodontic treatment varies greatly. Our consultations are complimentary and last about an hour.　 At this appointment a clinical technician　will take a series of pictures and Dr. Kim will do a quick exam. The photos and exam will help the doctor to determine the best treatment option available for you. Our financial coordinator will then customize a payment plan designed to meet your financial needs. We offer a variety of plans that include payment in full at the start of treatment for a discount, to monthly payments with no interest over the treatment time. We also offer out-of-office financing that allows the patient to pay over a longer period of time. All of our options give you the freedom to design a financial plan that makes it possible to start treatment at the best time for you or your child.

If you have insurance we will be happy to help you to determine the coverage you have available at your first visit. Insurance companies usually pay for a percentage of orthodontic treatment. We will bill the insurance company for your treatment throughout the treatment time. With your permission, we will have the insurance company pay us. The amount that the insurance company pay is deducted from your total treatment cost for orthodontic treatment.