For kids between the ages of 7 and 10, early orthodontic evaluation is all about timing. As a trusted orthodontist for kids in Wichita, Santucci Orthodontics focuses on guiding healthy growth. We take a conservative, observation-first approach to early care. Our goal is to guide children’s development with clarity, catch problems early if they arise, and build a foundation for healthy, confident smiles later on.
Your journey begins with a comprehensive consultation. Our treatment coordinator will gather digital scans, photographs, and bite records to understand your current smile architecture. Dr. Santucci personally reviews this data to assess facial harmony, airway health, and alignment patterns, laying the foundation for your custom smile design.
If early intervention is appropriate, Dr. Santucci will design a custom treatment plan that supports your child’s growth and sets the stage for a healthy, balanced smile. The focus during this phase isn’t on perfection—it’s on prevention. The goal is to create the right conditions for permanent teeth to come in smoothly, with fewer complications down the road.
Treatment varies depending on your child’s needs, but may include:
We look at the whole picture—airway, jaw position, facial profile, and lip posture. Gentle appliances like expanders or growth guidance tools can help widen the upper jaw or advance growth where needed, improving breathing and function while shaping the face naturally.
If your child’s front teeth are crowded, spaced, or rotated, we may use braces or clear aligners to improve alignment early on. We also begin shaping the smile arc—the curve of the teeth that follows the lower lip—for a more youthful, expressive look.
Aligning the center of the smile is key to long-term esthetics and function. We also check for habits or restrictions—like tongue ties—that may be affecting growth and recommend treatment if needed.
If your child doesn’t need treatment right away, we’ll place them in our complimentary Growth Guidance Program. This lets us monitor their development over time and step in only when it’s truly necessary. It also gives you peace of mind knowing we’re tracking things closely as they grow.
Most kids return for full treatment between the ages of 11 and 15. If your child completed Phase 1 earlier, this next stage is usually simpler and more efficient. Either way, we’ll be ready with a personalized plan designed to give them the confident, healthy smile they deserve.
