When it comes to seeing any sort of specialist these days, you often have to navigate a whole referral process before you can make an appointment. If you’ve been contemplating orthodontic care for your child recently, you may be wondering if you’ll have to jump through any hoops to get a referral from their dentist first. The good news is, most dental insurance plans don’t require a referral, and most orthodontists don’t, either. So you’re free to request a complimentary consultation with Dillehay Orthodontics any time you’re ready!
You may not need a dental referral to seek out and receive orthodontic care, but your child’s dentist still has an important role to play in maintaining their oral health. In addition to their regularly scheduled check-ups, consider having your child’s teeth and gums inspected before you actually schedule an orthodontic visit. This can help ensure that their mouths are healthy enough for any treatment that may be needed, now or in the future.
Why we encourage early evaluations for children
Many people tend to associate orthodontics with teens in braces, the truth is that patients of all ages can benefit from orthodontic care, including children. That’s one reason why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children have their first orthodontic visit by around the age of 7. Generally speaking, most kids this age will still have quite a few baby teeth left, as well as a mouth that’s still developing. This may lead you to question why we would be encouraging them to see an orthodontist so soon, but these visits are an important part of the preventative care approach we take to improving oral health.
Another part of oral hygiene people often dismiss as unimportant is caring for the baby teeth, since they’re all lost eventually, anyway. However, these primary teeth are the place holders for our permanent teeth, so where they’re located and when they’re lost matters more than you might think. Because our baby teeth set the foundation for the permanent teeth to emerge, an orthodontic exam in early childhood gives us the chance to catch any existing or potential problems before they can become more serious. This helps to reduce or eliminate any negative impact on the future permanent teeth.
When you schedule your child for an examination with one of our doctors, we’ll look around to see if the proper number of teeth are forming and if they are erupting in the correct locations. Our team will also check for any present orthodontic issues, or if there are signs of them developing. Even though most children this age won’t need any treatment right away, they’ll still benefit from regular monitoring by an experienced orthodontist.
Find an orthodontist that’s a good fit for your family
If your child’s dentist does refer you to an orthodontist, but picks a specific one you aren’t sure you want to see, don’t worry! Since no referral is necessary, you can always choose the orthodontist you and your child feel most comfortable with, and not just the one you’ve been referred to.
Since you’ll both be spending a lot of time in the orthodontist’s office throughout the treatment process, finding a provider that’s a good fit for your family right up front is important. Word of mouth can be a great way to accomplish this! Talk to family, friends, and coworkers for their recommendations, getting the scoop on who they love and why. A personal referral from a satisfied patient you know can be the first step in finding a practice you love! Reading reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook can be helpful, too. Many orthodontists also share examples of their work and patient testimonials on their website. You can find our testimonials here and some before-and-after images here!
Look for a provider who meets your family’s orthodontic needs
We know that as a parent, you want to give your child their very best chance at a lifelong healthy smile. An initial consultation with the Dillehay Orthodontics team is an excellent place to start! We’re proud to provide our patients with state-of-the-art treatment techniques and the most innovative technology available in orthodontics today. We believe that the more information we have in diagnosing each case, the better equipped we are to provide each patient with optimal, individualized treatment.
Our team works hard to provide an office environment that’s fun, friendly, and inviting for patients and parents alike! We’ll always take care to treat your family compassion, understanding, and respect. Our exams are never rushed, and we’ll do our best to ensure you understand everything about your child’s treatment plan as it progresses. If either of you ever have any questions or concerns, we’ll be happy to walk you through them to your satisfaction. It’s our goal to provide the highest quality care and customer service for your family from your first appointment to your last!
At Dillehay Orthodontics, we value your time
It can be tough to fit school, work, extracurricular activities, and orthodontic appointments into an already busy schedule. Having two doctors in our practice means more scheduling flexibility, so we’re able to offer a variety of convenient appointment times. We have appointments available each business day, both before and after school, and also extend our evening hours on select days each month. We’ll always work with you to find check-up times that meet your needs, and once you arrive, we’ll get your child in and out as quickly as possible!
Investing in your child’s smile
Everyone deserves a healthy smile, and we want every patient we see to receive the orthodontic care they need. We offer a variety of payment options, including affordable payment plans for every budget, most major credit cards, and insurance plans. If your insurance will be covering any portion of your orthodontic treatment, our office staff is always available to help you with insurance claims and paperwork.
There’s no referral needed for a healthy smile by Dillehay Orthodontics
Whether you’ve found our practice through a dental referral, a recommendation from family and friends, or an online review, Dillehay Orthodontics is here to provide you and your child with a positive and rewarding experience. That begins with a complimentary consultation in one of our offices!
At this initial visit, your child will receive a full orthodontic evaluation by one of our doctors. Afterwards, we’ll discuss the results of that exam, and explain the customized treatment plan we’ve created for their specific needs. Our practice has a variety of treatment options available to correct orthodontic issues from mild to complex, and will only recommend the right treatment at the right time.
When it comes to creating a healthy, beautiful smile for your child, there’s no referral necessary! To learn more about how orthodontic care could benefit your family, get in touch with us today to schedule a complimentary consultation.