Braces and Early Orthodontic Treatment in Fort Worth, TX

In addition to our specialized dental services for kids, Sycamore Smiles offers a wide selection of advanced orthodontic treatments! Because Dr. Freeman understands the importance of tracking the development of each child’s smile, our team takes extra care to monitor and evaluate each child’s need for orthodontic treatment early on.

Because many oral health concerns can be corrected at a young age, our pediatric dental team provides early evaluations and emphasizes quality prevention to help young patients avoid orthodontic issues. If Dr. Freeman detects a need for your child to undergo orthodontic treatment, they can get the care they need from the complete selection of treatment options at our Fort Worth dental office!

Early Detection of Orthodontic Concerns

Attending your child’s regularly scheduled pediatric dental appointments will help ensure their smile stays healthy and detect the potential need for orthodontic treatment, like traditional braces or clear aligners. At every preventive dental visit, we’ll take time to evaluate your child’s teeth, bite, and facial structure to ensure their smile is developing properly. We work to detect bite problems early on to avoid speech impediments and promote a healthy bite function.

Orthodontic Evaluations

During an orthodontic evaluation, Dr. Freeman will take a look at your child’s teeth, gums and surrounding structures, including the muscles and bones of the mouth. Each comprehensive evaluation is provided to help detect the need for orthodontic treatment as early as possible, and help parents best plan for their child's future treatment needs.

Our top kids' orthodontic treatments in Fort Worth, TX include:

Phase I & Phase II Orthodontic Treatments

If Dr. Freeman detects a need for orthodontic treatment, Sycamore Smiles typically offers orthodontic care in a two-phase system. Phase I is offered to our patients who still have the majority of their primary teeth, typically between the ages of 6 and 10. Your child's orthodontic treatment in Phase I may include an active retainer, partial braces, or expansion. These are delivered to improve the relationship between the upper and lower jaws, and to prepare them to make room for permanent teeth.

Phase II treatment will primarily depend on your child’s growth. The goal of Phase II is to ensure each of your child's teeth are located in the best place to be able to function properly. Phase II orthodontics will begin after your child's permanent teeth have erupted, and will typically involve full upper lower and braces. This phase of treatment typically lasts a minimum of 24 months, depending on your child's specific orthodontic needs.

Clear Aligners

Dr. Freeman offers clear aligners to support our young patients' healthiest smiles! Aligned smiles don't just affect the appearance of the smile; they also help ensure the teeth are easier to clean and keep healthy.

Clear aligner trays offer a comfortable alternative to traditional metal brackets and wires. The removable trays make it easy to enjoy mealtimes and maintain your child’s oral hygiene routine, keeping tooth decay at bay throughout their orthodontic treatment. Dr. Freeman will help create your child’s series of custom-fitted trays and regularly monitor their treatment to achieve their best results.

Traditional Metal Braces

Traditional braces are still the most common type of braces for orthodontic patients of all ages. Today's metal braces are smaller, flatter and more comfortable than those of years past. At Sycamore Smiles, Dr. Freeman may recommend traditional braces for our patients facing crooked teeth, more severe tooth crowding, jaw problems, or a misaligned bite.

SmartClip™ Braces

The SmartClip system is a self-ligating orthodontic appliance that eliminates the need to open and close traditional braces to insert archwires. This streamlined process results in faster and more comfortable adjustments for our pediatric patients.

Space Maintainers

If your child loses a baby tooth prematurely (either naturally or due to a tooth extraction), they may require a space maintainer. Dr. Freeman will create a customized space maintainer specifically for your child's mouth.

Space maintainers help preserve the gap left by the missing tooth. This prevents surrounding teeth from shifting into the empty space, which can lead to overcrowding and additional orthodontic issues in the future.

Baby teeth play a crucial role in the proper development of adult teeth, jawbones, and facial muscles. By using a space maintainer, we can ensure that your child's permanent teeth erupt into their correct positions, minimizing the need for more complex orthodontic treatment down the line.

Caring for Your Child’s Smile After Braces

After your child's braces come off, it’s important to take the right steps to maintain their results and ensure their new smile doesn't shift out of alignment. Following your child's orthodontic treatment with Sycamore Smiles, it’s typically recommended that they wear a retainer. Dr. Freeman will recommend the best retainer for their needs and ensure it’s custom-made and specially fitted to their smile!

Your Home for Comprehensive Orthodontics for Kids in Fort Worth

Straighter, healthier smiles can start early on, with comprehensive orthodontic evaluations and treatments at Sycamore Smiles. Contact us today to schedule your child’s orthodontic appointment!