At Windy City Orthodontics, we think kids are really cool. Dr. Pakravan works with entire families sometimes—and he makes sure their collective experience is top-notch. Let’s go over how to prepare for your child’s first orthodontic appointment.
Familiar Faces and Places
Our website is an incredible resource for parents to show their kids ahead of their first visit. Here are a few of the ways we suggest using it to let your child become familiar with our practice:
- All About Dr. Pakravan and the Team: You can show your child Dr. Pakravan’s profile, as well as photos of our team so that they know who they’ll be meeting!
- Before and Afters: To better explain the type of transformation they can expect with orthodontic treatment, have your kiddo check out our before and after gallery.
- Office Tour: Our website features photos of our Lakeview office, which can be very helpful for kids who are curious about what this mysterious new place will look like!
You can also reach out to our office team if you want to visit our office before your appointment.
Tips & Tricks for Your First Visit
Our team at Windy City Orthodontics welcomes children into our practice every day, and we do our best to see that they feel at home. There are many ways that you, as a parent, can contribute to making this process a better one. You know your child better than anyone!
- Read Books and Watch Videos: Visual media is an excellent aid for educating and informing children about orthodontics. Whether it’s a book featuring a favorite character or a fun YouTube video, these tools can pack a big punch.
- Share Positive Stories: Orthodontic treatment is a very common thing these days—so you probably know someone who has successfully completed it, or who is currently in treatment. Let these people be positive examples for your child if they seem unsure. This is especially effective with friends and family members.
- Questions are Golden: Children are brilliantly curious, and we love that about them. No question is a dumb question. In fact, encourage them to write down some of the questions they may have when they come to their first appointment. Our team will provide all the answers we can.
- Choose the Right Appointment Time: If your schedule allows, try to make the first visit at a time when your child is usually well-rested and not hungry to make the experience a bit calmer and encourage cooperation.
- Keep Explanations Age-Appropriate: Tailor your explanations to your child’s level of understanding. Younger kids can respond better to playful descriptions and analogies, while older children can appreciate more transparent details.
- Set Realistic Expectations: Let them know that while braces may be in their future, the first appointment is mainly about meeting the doctor, taking digital scans and x-rays, and answering questions. They have nothing to be nervous about.
- Make it a Big Deal (in a Good Way): Let this visit represent an exciting milestone, an accomplishment to be proud of! Remind them how many of their friends and peers go to the orthodontist and that it’s an important step in growing up.
- Rewards and Gratification: After the visit, you can reward your child by taking them to do a fun activity or eat a favorite meal. These can help them associate positive experiences with their orthodontic visits in the future.
Further Questions
Finally, we want to answer a few common questions we get regarding a child’s first orthodontic appointment.
Q: How long does the first appointment last?
Your first visit will usually be around 30 minutes to an hour. It’s mostly informational and diagnostic and lets your child get their bearings in our office.
Q: Is my child too young for orthodontic treatment?
Generally speaking, we can see kids as early as age seven for early interceptive treatment (Phase One Treatment). This can help us get a headstart on addressing severe issues like crowding or bite problems before permanent teeth fully erupt. Full braces treatment usually starts around age eleven or twelve. If you have any questions regarding your child’s qualification for treatment, let us know.
Q: Does my child need to do anything before their visit?
It’s very helpful when your child’s teeth are nice and clean! That way, we can see their teeth clearly, and be more time effective.
A Special Approach
So, like we said, We take treating kids seriously in our practice! You can reassure them that they are in the best possible hands with our superstar team! To schedule your first appointment in Lakeview or Lincoln Park, contact us today.