Early Orthodontic Treatment in Auburn, IN
Growth Evaluations for Auburn Children
The reason to have a seven-year-old seen by an orthodontist is not to start braces. It is to find out whether the upper jaw is wide enough, whether the bite is developing correctly and whether the permanent teeth have anywhere to go. Those things are visible years before they become a problem, and some of them are far easier to fix while a child is still growing.
At our West Seventh Street office the evaluation is free, and Dr. Joel Johnson frequently ends it by telling parents to do nothing yet. The child goes onto a monitoring schedule and we watch the permanent teeth arrive until the right moment — if any — presents itself.
What a First Phase Is For
Early treatment is narrow and purposeful. It solves one developmental problem instead of straightening everything.
| What we look for | How it presents | How it is handled |
|---|---|---|
| Narrow upper jaw / crossbite | Upper teeth biting inside the lower ones | A palatal expander widens the jaw over a few months while the child is still growing |
| Severe crowding, no room to erupt | Permanent teeth with nowhere to arrive | Creating space early can prevent impaction and reduce later treatment time |
| Protruding front teeth | Raised risk of chipping in an active child | Limited early treatment reduces the exposure; comprehensive alignment comes later |
| Habits affecting growth | Thumb sucking or tongue posture altering the bite | Addressed early, while the change is still developmental rather than skeletal |
Where the correction depends on growth, the timing is not flexible. That is the entire case for an evaluation at seven rather than a first appointment at twelve.
Monitoring, and What Happens Next
After the first visit, Auburn children fall into two groups. Most are simply watched: brief complimentary check-ups while the permanent teeth come through, until either the concern resolves itself or the timing for comprehensive treatment arrives.
The smaller group begins a short first phase — commonly an expander, sometimes limited braces — lasting several months up to a year. Appliances then come out and monitoring resumes. Be clear on one point: a first phase usually does not replace later treatment. It makes that treatment shorter and simpler, and occasionally prevents something worse. Dr. Johnson will tell you which of those he expects in your child’s case.
What DeKalb County Parents Should Expect From Us
Parents are rightly suspicious of being sold treatment a young child does not need.
- The first evaluation is free, imaging included, and monitoring visits are not billed as treatment.
- Most children are watched rather than treated — we will tell you when the answer is ‘not yet’.
- Dr. Johnson reviews every growth check personally, so nobody is reading someone else’s notes.
- University of Michigan orthodontic residency and an adjunct clinical faculty appointment there.
- 7:30 a.m. starts Monday through Thursday and Friday mornings until noon.
- Sibling appointments together, which matters when you are driving in from Garrett or Waterloo.
Fees, Coverage and Monthly Payments
The evaluation and the monitoring visits that follow are free. If a first phase is recommended, we verify your orthodontic benefit, quote the case, and explain how a Phase 1 fee interacts with your plan’s lifetime orthodontic maximum before you commit. See pricing, payment plans, insurance and your first visit.
Finding Our Auburn Office
our office at 702 W Seventh St, Auburn, IN 46706, on West Seventh Street, a few minutes from the I-69 Auburn exit, with parking at the door and early appointments that get children to school on time.
O·M·I Orthodontics, 702 W Seventh St, Auburn, IN 46706. Phone (260) 925-0300. Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon. Siblings can be booked back to back — ask the front desk. Our Auburn office page has directions, and Early orthodontic treatment in Fort Wayne, IN is the same treatment at our Fort Wayne office.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should my child first be evaluated?
About age seven, once the permanent front teeth and first molars are usually in. That is enough for a specialist to judge how the rest will develop.
Will an early visit lead to early braces?
For most children, no. The majority are monitored, and only a minority need a first phase before the permanent teeth are in.
What does an expander actually do?
It widens a narrow upper jaw over a few months, which can correct a crossbite and create space for permanent teeth that would otherwise crowd or become impacted. It is much simpler while a child is growing.
Will braces still be needed later?
Often yes. Phase 1 addresses a developmental problem; comprehensive treatment later aligns the permanent teeth. Braces covers that stage.
Do we need a referral from our dentist?
No. You can book the free evaluation directly.
Is monitoring charged?
No. Check-ups between the evaluation and the start of any treatment are complimentary.
Other treatments we offer: Clear aligner · Adult orthodontics · Retainers and post-treatment care. General overview of this treatment · all services.
Book Your Child’s Free Growth Evaluation
The evaluation costs nothing, including the imaging. Most Auburn children leave on a monitoring schedule rather than in appliances, and you will be told plainly if there is nothing to treat.
Our Auburn office is at 702 W Seventh St, Auburn, IN 46706, on West Seventh Street, a few minutes from the I-69 Auburn exit. Patients are seen Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon. You can book your complimentary consultation online, send us a message, or call (260) 925-0300.