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Do you really need to see an orthodontist for braces? Why choose an orthodontist over your family dentist? Dr. Wes Chladny of Spring Hill’s Dr. Wes Orthodontics answers this commonly asked question. Here’s what he has to say…

Q: “My dentist does braces and Invisalign®, why would I need an orthodontist?”

Dr. Wes says:

Good question. Thanks for asking. To begin, braces and Invisalign are products used by orthodontists, as well as some dentists, to straighten teeth and correct bites. The products themselves are similar regardless of the office, so it might seem logical that it doesn’t really matter where you go to get them. However––and I cannot emphasize this enough––the majority of the fees you pay for treatment are not for the braces or Invisalign products themselves. Instead, you are largely paying for the professional service of orthodontic treatment. Orthodontics is much more than straightening teeth and proper treatment can be quite complicated and challenging. Therefore, it is the provider of that professional service that is the most important consideration and differentiator.

Orthodontists are specialists in the growth and development of the face and jaws, alignment of teeth, and the correction of bite problems. They receive an additional 2-3 years of training beyond dental school to develop expertise in the dental specialty of orthodontics. Additionally, orthodontists have more experience in straightening teeth and correcting bites than any other dental professional because orthodontics is the only service they offer.

Some dentists offer orthodontic services but they do not have the advanced education and training in orthodontics that an orthodontist has. Dentists also offer numerous other general dental services in addition to orthodontics, which limits the experience they can achieve treating orthodontic problems. This does not mean that some dentists are not capable of correcting certain orthodontic problems. That being said, I would strongly recommend that patients or parents at least schedule a consultation with an orthodontist before beginning any orthodontic treatment. 

Consultations with orthodontists are typically complimentary, so patients are able to get an expert opinion without incurring any expense or making any commitment. This is a valuable service that I would encourage people to take advantage of before making decisions about treatment, and you do not need to have a referral to schedule a consultation with most orthodontists. 

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

Dr. Wes is currently offering a special promotion for new patients. Call (615) 282-5038 for more information. As always, initial consultations are free. For more info visit https://www.drwesortho.com/.

Dr. Wes Chladny of Spring Hill’s Dr. Wes Orthodontics answers parents’ questions and concerns regarding their child’s orthodontic care.

Q: “My daughter is only 8 but she has several classmates already in braces. Should she be starting treatment right now?”

Dr. Wes Says:

Thanks for the question. This is a great follow-up to a previous discussion about the timing of a child’s first orthodontic evaluation. We do not believe widespread orthodontic treatment of 7, 8, 9, or even 10-year-old children is supported by the best available research or our experience treating thousands of patients. However, some children do benefit from treatment of very specific problems around this age. In these instances, the problem, treatment plan, and treatment goals should be well explained and understood. The reason for not delaying treatment until the child has lost all or most of his/her baby teeth should also be clear. If these criteria are not met, seek another opinion. You may very well save yourself a lot of money and your child the unenviable experience of having braces twice.

When Should a Younger Child Get Braces?

Some indications for orthodontic treatment in 7 to 10-year-old children are: 

• Crossbites of back teeth or front teeth
• Thumb or finger sucking habits
• Extreme protrusion of top front teeth (buck teeth) that makes them prone to injury
• Significant crowding that is preventing permanent teeth from coming in
• Self-esteem/teasing issues

This is not an exhaustive list, but it covers most of the indications for early orthodontic treatment. Most children only need one round of orthodontic treatment and are ready for braces when they have lost all of their baby (primary) teeth and most or all of their permanent teeth have come in.  Every child is different, but this can usually be expected between 11.5-13 years old. Give our office a call at (615) 282-5038 if you have any other questions about this topic!

Dr. Wes Orthodontics provides exceptional orthodontic care for patients of all ages in a small, boutique setting. To schedule a complimentary consultation, call (615) 282-5038 or book online.

Dr. Wes Chladny of Spring Hill’s Dr. Wes Orthodontics answers parents’ questions and concerns regarding their child’s orthodontic care.

Q: “When should my child see an orthodontist for the first time?”

Dr. Wes says:

Great question! We like to see children receive an orthodontic evaluation at age seven or eight. This is consistent with the recommendation of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). By age seven or eight, some of the permanent front teeth have erupted and an orthodontist can evaluate dental and facial development and give parents feedback.

Let me emphasize, most children do not require treatment at this age and you should not expect that the first evaluation appointment will end with your child in braces. For most children in our practice, growth and development continues to be monitored with complimentary observation visits once or twice a year. However, some children do benefit from treatment of very specific problems at or around this age. If a problem is detected, this early evaluation will allow the orthodontist to recommend the most appropriate treatment at the most ideal time for your growing child.

Most orthodontists offer complimentary orthodontic evaluations, so the only investment you have to make for this service is about a half-an-hour to an hour of time. It’s a great deal for some peace of mind. We always offer complimentary evaluations in our practice and you do not need a referral from your dentist to schedule one. Hope that helps!

Additional Information from AAO

The American Association of Orthodontists lists the following conditions as ones that may be well-suited for early treatment. Keep in mind, Dr. Wes evaluates these (and all) conditions on a case-by-case basis.

• Underbites – when the lower front teeth are ahead of the upper front teeth
• Crossbites – when the upper teeth are inside of the lowers
• Functional shift – when the jaw shifts to one side as the teeth come together
• Very crowded teeth
• Excessively spaced teeth
• Extra or missing teeth
• Teeth that meet abnormally or don’t meet at all
• Thumb-, finger- or pacifier- sucking that is affecting the teeth or jaw growth

Free Consultations + Special Offer for New Patients

Dr. Wes is currently offering a special promotion for new patients. Call (615) 282-5038 for more information. As always, initial consultations are free. For more info visit https://www.drwesortho.com/.

Bigger isn’t always better for patients. Dr. Wes Chladny of Spring Hill’s Dr. Wes Orthodontics believes that a small, locally-owned private practice is the best way to provide personalized orthodontic care. That belief led him to transition from a large, busy practice he owned for 10 years in Illinois to his unique concept recently opened in Spring Hill, TN.

Invested in the Community

“We are committed to making sure that we take great care of our friends and neighbors,” says Wes Chladny, who is known by patients as “Dr. Wes.” “That’s why it was important to us to have one location and one orthodontist. This allows us to be completely invested in serving the community where we live and provide families like ours a consistent and individualized experience.”

At Dr. Wes Orthodontics, patients and their families are always made to feel important––because they are. The “Dr. Wes Way,” as described on the practice’s website, values personal attention and care:

People first. Always.

If you need an appointment, you’ve got it.

When you arrive, no crazy waits.

You get 1-1 doctor time, every time. 

No cookie cutters: Your teeth. Your treatment plan.

Have questions? Keep ‘em coming. 

Your appointments won’t be rushed. 

We listen and communicate every step of the way.

You can trust that the doctor is always in. 

Familiar & Dependable

When patients visit Dr. Wes Orthodontics, they can expect the familiarity and dependability that only comes with a family business. Dr. Wes’s wife and co-pilot, April Chladny, is a registered dental assistant who aids Dr. Wes in many procedures while he personally cares for every patient.

“In most contemporary orthodontic offices, many of the duties are delegated to assistants and other support staff,” explains Dr. Wes. “I strongly believe, based on my extensive experience in both private and corporate orthodontics, that the more involved the orthodontist is in the delivery of care, the better the outcomes. That’s why the families in our practice can count on spending more time with me than they do with anyone else in our office. We’re parents and this kind of personal orthodontic care is what we’d want for our kids,” says Dr. Wes.  

People Over Profits

As many orthodontic practices trend toward maximizing patient volume and profitability, Dr. Wes prioritizes results and patient satisfaction above all else. “We mean it when we say no two patients are alike and they’re not treated the same. We use our wealth of experience treating thousands of patients, combined with cutting-edge technologies, to deliver results that are completely customized. We call it modern orthodontics practiced with old-fashioned care.”

Free Consultations + Special Offer for New Patients

Dr. Wes is currently offering a special promotion for new patients. Call (615) 282-5038 for more information. As always, initial consultations are complimentary and do not require a referral. For more info visit https://www.drwesortho.com/.