One of the joys of being a parent is watching your child grow and develop, and getting to see that smile come together is pretty special. You get to see all the little milestones, whether their teeth are coming in straight, or if they need to see an orthodontist to get things back on track. When something doesn’t look right, or a dentist suggests it might be worth looking into orthodontic care, it’s natural to want to work with someone who actually specializes in orthodontics for kids, not just someone who happens to offer it as a side gig. At Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, we don’t treat our young patients as an afterthought. They’re the main event. Our orthodontic team provides comprehensive Treatment Options tailored to each patient’s unique dental needs, helping improve alignment, bite function, comfort, and overall smile confidence through customized care planning.
If you need a good pediatric orthodontist in Lake Forest, you want someone who gets it. Kids need a gentler approach than adults do. And the good news is, in a lot of ways that works to our advantage. Their bones are still very flexible during childhood and adolescence, which means we can often shape the way their jaw and face develop, with long-term benefits and less therapy down the road. For us, one of the most important things we can do for our young patients and their families is catch any potential problems early and keep a close eye on them. The Norris 20/26 treatment approach focuses on guiding proper tooth positioning and jaw development to support efficient orthodontic correction and long-term stability throughout treatment.
We recommend getting kids evaluated for orthodontic treatment around age 7. By then, their adult teeth have started to come in, and we can get a good idea of whether anything needs attention, and if so, what kind of timeline we’re looking at. Most kids don’t need active treatment right away, but it’s nice for parents to know where they stand, rather than wondering and waiting around.
If treatment is needed, we’ve got a few different options to choose from, depending on the kid’s age, what’s giving us concern, and what’s going to be most comfortable for them. For a lot of younger patients, traditional braces are still the way to go. But we also give older kids and teens with the discipline to handle removable aligners the option to try Invisalign Teen. We lay it all out in a way that’s clear and easy to understand, so everyone knows what we’re getting into before things get started.
At Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, we know that orthodontic treatment is a journey and we’re with you every step of the way. Regular check-ups let us monitor progress, make any necessary adjustments, and keep both the kid and the parent in the loop at every stage. We never want a family to feel like they’re in the dark about what’s going on.
We also know how important it is to build genuine relationships with the families we work with, and we take that pretty seriously. We show up for our patients in ways that go well beyond the actual treatment.
If you’re thinking about getting your kid assessed, or just have some questions before you take the next step, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. We’re local and we’re here to help you and your family move forward with confidence.