Orthodontics for Kids & Teens

Orthodontic Care:

Orthodontic treatment can play an important role in guiding the healthy development of a child's smile. While braces and aligners are often associated with teenagers, many orthodontic concerns can be identified and addressed during childhood. Early orthodontic evaluations may benefit children with crowded teeth, bite problems, jaw discrepancies, oral habits, or concerns about how permanent teeth are erupting.

Space Maintenance, Habit Appliances, and Expanders:

Some orthodontic concerns can be managed within our pediatric dental office. Space maintainers help preserve room for permanent teeth when baby teeth are lost prematurely. Habit appliances may be recommended to help children stop thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting habits that can affect dental development. Palatal expanders can also be used in select cases to help guide jaw growth and create space for developing teeth. Our team will evaluate your child's needs and discuss whether these treatment options may be appropriate.

Orthodontic Specialists:

As children grow, some orthodontic needs extend beyond the scope of pediatric dentistry and require the expertise of an orthodontic specialist. We routinely work with many outstanding orthodontists throughout the Triangle area and are happy to coordinate care with the provider selected by each family. Our goal is to ensure that every child receives the most appropriate treatment while maintaining seamless communication among all members of the dental team.

Peak Smiles Orthodontics:

For the convenience of our patients and families, Dr. Shyam Desai of Peak Smiles Orthodontics provides orthodontic services from office space located within our facility. This arrangement allows families to access pediatric dental and orthodontic care in a familiar setting while maintaining separate professional practices. Peak Smiles Orthodontics is an independently owned and operated orthodontic practice and is not affiliated with, owned by, or under common management with Little Tooth Co. We value our collaborative relationships with orthodontists throughout the community and continue to support families in choosing the provider that best meets their child’s needs.