Building beautiful smiles since 1966

We get this question a lot, but to be completely honest, we may not know the best time for your child to have orthodontic treatment until we see them. We take lots of radiographs (x-rays) to understand your child's unique growth and development, and decide off of those findings. No orthodontic case is the same, so we approach each treatment uniquely.

A dentist is a general practitioner responsible for diagnosing and treating various oral health issues, including gum care, root canals, fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and preventive education. On the other hand, an orthodontist is a specialized dentist who focuses on correcting bites, occlusion, and straightening teeth, typically through braces, Invisalign, or other dental appliances. An orthodontist requires additional education and training after dental school.

Orthopedic treatment generally refers to musculoskeletal treatments, including your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. This might include treatment for arthritis, fractures, or degenerative diseases. On the other hand, orthodontic treatment is a subset of dentistry that deals with correcting the position of teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly. This includes using braces, retainers, and aligners to correct misalignments.

During your first orthodontist appointment, the orthodontist typically takes diagnostic records, including photos of your face and mouth, X-rays of your teeth, jaws and hands, and 3D scans. This helps the orthodontist evaluate your oral health, track changes and growth, and develop a treatment plan. Depending on the complexity of your case, treatment could start the same day or at a subsequent appointment.

Yes! You’ll need to see a dentist especially because you have braces. It’s harder to keep your teeth clean when they have cemented-on brackets and connecting wire. A professional cleaning and exam every 6-months will help any hygiene-related problems aggregated by the braces.

It’s very average for most children to get braces between the ages of 8 and 14, but some children can start orthodontic treatment as early as 6 years old. Orthodontic treatment is common in children and teenagers because it’s easier to prevent alignment problems as their bites are still forming. The good news is, even if you are past the “optimal” age to get braces, you can still correct your bite and align teeth as an adult with phenomenal results.

Yes! You can definitely still get braces, even if you have some teeth missing. If you’ve had teeth missing for a while, you may have found that other teeth have drifted into your absent tooth’s space. Braces can open that space up again, leaving enough room for an implant to replace the missing tooth.

Crooked and crowded teeth might not be the only problems orthodontic care can correct. Severe underbites or overbites, crossbites, or large gaps in your child’s teeth can also indicate that they'll need some orthodontic treatment. Heading to the dentist regularly from when their first tooth appears and throughout their childhood will help catch these problems early. While general and pediatric dentists do not provide orthodontic treatment, they can recognize problems early and refer you to an orthodontist. If you’re curious about your child’s teeth, give us a call! With our free consultations, we can let you know what kind of treatment would be necessary. Schedule one today!

Your smile is one of your most prized and personal possessions. It’s tough to give someone the responsibility to straighten and align it. When picking an orthodontist, here are some things to consider. Are they board-certified? Not all orthodontists need to be board-certified in the United States, but orthodontists can be proud of their certification.

Free consultations aren’t just for the orthodontist to create a treatment plan to sell you on. You’re there to ask questions, get to know the orthodontist and his team, and above all, see if you feel comfortable! Orthodontic care can take up to a year or longer with routine appointments every few weeks.

Location can be important when you’re trying to make appointments fit into your busy life. Hillam Orthodontics has three locations to increase convenience. Schedule your appointment in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Afton, Wyoming; or, Driggs, Idaho.

Finally, you can check reviews, see transformations online, or read the testimonials. It’s great to hear what others have to say and to see their results.

During your free consultation at Hillam Orthodontics, the team will take x-rays of you or your child’s mouth to see a better picture of what’s going on. As our orthodontists create a treatment plan, they’ll e the x-rays, your goals, and past dental care. They’ll then present the treatment plan and options to you to take into consideration before deciding to start treatment.