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Is your child’s smile looking a little less bright? Has it been a while since your child’s last dental check-up and cleaning? If the answer is yes, it is time to take your child to visit a Dallas orthodontist.

Orthodontists are specially trained to treat dental and facial issues such as crowding or spacing, crossbite, open bite, tooth grinding, and tongue thrusting. But parents need to know what they should be asking when it comes time to choose an orthodontist in Dallas.

You want your child’s teeth and smile to look their best, so you must do your research beforehand. Here is a list of the top questions to ask Dallas pediatric orthodontists before settling on one.

1. How Long Have They Been Practicing Orthodontics?

This is one of the most important questions to ask a pediatric dentist in Dallas, TX because it will help you gauge their credibility. Experience counts when dealing with teeth and other oral health issues.

The longer your orthodontist has been in practice, the more likely they are experienced enough to provide excellent care for your child’s smile.

For example, if they have been in practice for 20 years, you can assume that their procedures are proven to work. On the flip side of this coin is an orthodontist who just graduated last year. Unless they are currently working under a more experienced orthodontist, you might want to look elsewhere.

As a general rule, the more experience your orthodontist has under their belt, the better they are likely to perform.

Of course, there are exceptions, but if your child’s smile matters as much to you as it does them, then don’t take any chances.

2. What Type of Insurance Do They Accept?

As with any other health care professional, your child’s orthodontist must accept the type of insurance you have.

Virtually all types of dental and medical plans cover at least some aspect of children’s orthodontic treatment costs. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Therefore, make sure to ask about their specific coverage before making an appointment for a consultation or treatment plan.

Your child’s orthodontist in Dallas can help you figure out if your current policy has enough benefits to cover most (if not all) of the work needed on your child’s teeth. If they do accept your Network Provider Group (NPG), then it is a plus.

However, if your child’s orthodontist does not accept NPG insurance policies at all, then you will need to find out how much their services are going to cost before making an appointment. This way, you can be prepared for the financial costs involved.

3. How Are They as a Person?

Credentials and experience are essential, but so is personality. As your child’s orthodontic care takes place over several years, you want to feel comfortable with them on an interpersonal level too.

It is important to find an orthodontist with who you can feel at ease. If your child feels the same way, they are more likely to open up about any issues or concerns during treatment. This will help speed along their recovery time and improve results in the long run.

A great way to find out if your child and their potential orthodontist will get along is by scheduling a consultation. This gives you the chance to see how they interact with each other in person, allowing you to make an informed decision about hiring them.

4. What Type of Technology Do They Use?

One of the great things about modern dentistry is that we have access to a wide range of high-tech equipment. This not only helps make the dentist’s job easier, but it also allows for more accurate results too!

A well-equipped orthodontic office will be using some kind of technology during your child’s treatment process.

Some examples include:

– Orthopantomograms (or “panorex”) take detailed X-rays of every tooth in your mouth and do so with amazing accuracy. These images can reveal hidden oral health issues that may need attention right away. Depending on your child’s needs, the orthodontist may need to take these images before treatment can begin — especially if your child’s regular dentist has not provided images beforehand.

– Cone beam scans can also produce detailed images that show the position and orientation of each tooth. This kind of information can help your dental or orthodontic specialist plan out a treatment plan with greater ease.

– Digital impressions are yet another way that orthodontists \see inside their patient’s mouths without resorting to surgery first. These computer-generated models make it easy for them to understand how everything looks inside before they start treating any issues found.

5. How Many Phases of Treatment Do They Offer?

Many patients require more than one phase of treatment. For example, straightening your child’s teeth with braces may be step number two. Step one might involve phase one orthodontics which is a problem-focused treatment that generally addresses one major problem in a young child’s mouth.

When you are researching potential orthodontic practices, make sure that they offer at least two phases during the course of treatment. Otherwise, there could be gaps between treatments that leave room for reoccurrence or relapse.

6. Are They Board-Certified?

You want an orthodontist in Dallas, TX, that is board-certified. This means the American Board of Orthodontics has recognized them for their contributions to dentistry and oral health care.

In addition, you should also look into whether or not your child’s new doctor has any active memberships with professional associations such as:

• The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)
• The American Dental Association (ADA)
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)

Orthodontic specialists that are board-certified and actively involved with multiple professional associations tend to be more qualified than those who only have one or none.

7. How Often Will We Need Appointments?

The number of appointments your child will need during their orthodontic treatment varies from person to person.

Typically, the more severe a case is, the more often they will have treatments until everything has been corrected. On the other hand, some patients have very mild cases and may only be treated once every few months.

However, regardless of how often your child needs to see their orthodontist, make sure that they provide you with a clear understanding of what will happen at each appointment before you commit to anything.

Choose the Best Dallas Orthodontist

Make sure you know the answers to these critical questions before choosing a “children’s dentist in my area.” This will help ensure that they can provide all of the care and treatment needed to get your child’s smile looking amazing.

Are you looking for a Dallas orthodontist you can trust? Contact Children’s Dental & Orthodontics today to book your first appointment.