Many parents consider braces as an option to straighten their children’s teeth. You have several options when it comes to braces for kids. You can learn more about this orthodontic treatment by reaching out to our team at Harris Orthodontics.
The Basics About Braces for Children
Braces represent a treatment option designed to straighten teeth for adults and children alike. Braces for children function in the same way as adult options. Your child’s braces will include several brackets that attach to their teeth. Dr. Harris places a metal wire to connect the brackets, along with elastic bands in many cases. Over time, Dr. Harris will adjust the tension of the wire to pull teeth into the correct position. Often, braces serve as an essential part of treatment to improve your child’s dental health.
What Can You Expect When Your Child Starts Orthodontic Treatment?
Many parents aren’t sure what to expect from braces for kids. Our team at Harris Orthodontics can provide you with answers to all of your questions.
Comfort
The action of moving teeth into place may cause some discomfort for patients. The braces put constant pressure on your child’s teeth, and some patients handle the discomfort better than others.
Your child’s comfort is of utmost importance to Dr. Harris. He adapts his treatment and techniques to the level of your child’s comfort to ensure they have the most positive and comfortable experience possible.
Cost
The cost for your child’s braces can vary based on the extent of their oral healthcare needs and the kind of insurance you carry. The out-of-pocket cost to patients most often varies from patient to patient, but for an estimate of what you may pay, check out our braces payment calculator here!
Time Frame
Treatment time can vary anywhere from 6 months to 30 months. However, most patients will require treatment for about 18 months.
We Design Our Orthodontic Treatment for Comfort
We understand the importance of your child’s comfort. That’s why we focus on providing you with options that minimize pain or discomfort. While traditional braces have a reputation for unpleasantness, many newer options feel natural.
Our team utilizes innovative technology to straighten teeth for all your family members. We’re ready to discuss all of your options so you can make an informed decision.
Understand Living with Braces
Braces for kids come with minor changes to your child’s life. For example, your child may need to avoid certain foods while wearing braces. The experts recommend cutting out foods that are:
Chewy
Sticky
Hard
These foods have the potential to damage or even break your child’s braces. Sticky foods often pull wires free, allowing these metal pieces to poke your child. You’ll need to come back to our office in this situation.
Children often experience some soreness after Dr. Harris tightens their braces. We recommend providing your child with soft foods for a day or two after adjusting. You may also want to give your child a pain reliever to help with the discomfort.
Other children express discomfort along their inner lips and cheeks from exposure to brackets. We recommend dental wax to alleviate this problem. You can apply this wax to the brackets, smoothing out the surface and relieving discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What age should my child first see an orthodontist?
A: Around age 7 is the right time for a first check. By then the first adult molars and front teeth are usually in, so Dr. Harris can spot bite, jaw, and airway problems while your child is still growing. And here’s the thing: a first visit at our Highland or Saratoga Springs office doesn’t mean braces are next. Often the honest answer is “let’s wait,” and he’ll tell you that straight.
Q: Does my 8-year-old need braces right now?
A: Probably not yet, and we won’t pretend otherwise. Plenty of Highland and Alpine parents come in expecting to hear “expander and braces,” and Dr. Harris will tell you if your child doesn’t need anything right now. He’ll also tell you when an issue is purely cosmetic, or when pulling baby teeth would just kick the problem down the road.
Q: Where can I get braces for kids near Highland, Utah?
A: Harris Orthodontics has two offices: 5455 Timpanogos Hwy #103 in Highland and 1168 N Redwood Rd Ste 203 in Saratoga Springs. Families come to us from American Fork, Lehi, Alpine, Cedar Hills, Pleasant Grove, and Eagle Mountain. Your child is cared for by Dr. Dallin Harris, a board-certified orthodontist, and associate Dr. Haley Hannabass.
Q: What happens at an early orthodontic evaluation?
A: Dr. Harris checks your child’s airway and jaw growth first, not just crooked teeth. He has extra training in airway and jaw growth, which is unusual for an orthodontist. He uses it to build a plan that guides both the bite and the airway as your child grows. A quick 3D scan replaces the goopy, gag-inducing molds, so even nervous kids do fine.
Q: How much do braces for kids cost in Utah?
A: Look, the exact price depends on what your child actually needs, and you’ll get the full number at the consult. Here’s what’s always true: no hidden fees, flexible payment plans, and the same price whether you pick braces or Invisalign® clear aligners, at both our Highland and Saratoga Springs offices. And since Dr. Harris won’t recommend treatment your child doesn’t need, you’re not paying for extras.
Q: What types of braces do you offer for kids?
A: We offer metal braces, clear ceramic braces, self-ligating braces, and twin braces. Dr. Harris picks the option that gets your child’s bite right with the least hardware and the shortest healthy timeline.
Q: Can my child get clear aligners instead of braces?
A: Yes, for many kids. Invisalign First® clear aligners are made for ages 7 to 10, and Dr. Harris is a Blue Diamond Invisalign provider, which puts him in the top 1% of providers in North America. But here’s what matters: aligners and braces cost the same here, so you choose based on what fits your child, not your budget.
Q: How long will my child have to wear braces?
A: As short a time as healthy tooth movement allows. Dr. Harris builds every plan around the shortest healthy timeline and the fewest devices, so your kid isn’t stuck with extra hardware for years. Visits are quick too, usually seated within a minute or two, which helps when you’re racing between school and practice in Highland or Lehi.
