My daughters love Dr. Canales and their friendly staff. Always there to answer questions and help in any way. Blessed to have them as our family orthodontists.
Early Orthodontic Treatment
& Braces for Kids
A Conservative Approach to Kids’ Orthodontics
Not every child needs orthodontics right away, and at Canales Orthodontics, that’s exactly what sets us apart.
We believe early care should be thoughtful and personalized, never rushed. As Gardendale and Alabaster’s trusted children’s orthodontists, we take a conservative approach and only recommend treatment when it’s truly needed.
We’ll always explain why we recommend treatment, and when we think the right time to get started will be, so you can make the best decision for your little one.
Whether your child is just getting their first permanent teeth or you’ve been told they need braces now, we’ll give you honest guidance and clear answers, backed by board-certified expertise.
When should my child see an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), along with our board-certified doctors, recommends that children have their first orthodontic check-up at age 7, or earlier if issues are apparent.
Age 7 is generally the prime time for us to detect growth concerns in the jaws, identify problematic conditions that are about to emerge, and create a plan to gently intercept these issues before they progress.
That said, every smile grows at its own pace, and Drs. Angie and Chris take the time to assess what’s best for your child. Here, most kids don’t start treatment right away, because we only move forward when the timing is right.
Hear from Parents
Like You
– Damon G.
They have taken such good care of my daughters! All the staff have made my daughters feel comfortable, and they treat patients like they matter. We are very pleased with the care and outcome of treatment.
– Liz H.
Very caring staff. We went in for a consultation and left feeling like he really cared for my nephew’s teeth and also felt no pressure in using them as a orthodontist. He said come back in 9 months because he wasn’t ready for braces yet. We will use them for braces if he does end up needing them.
– Joyce H.
We were greeted by a warm and friendly staff who answered all of our questions and concerns. We met with Dr. Canales and he was just as warm and friendly as the staff. He took time with my son and to explain things that we were going to watch and wait on. He didn’t try to rush us or push us into braces like some other orthodontists do. I can’t say enough what a wonderful experience we had!
– Joanna W.
Great experience, no pressure or feeling like you’re being pushed to get unnecessary treatment. Would highly recommend.
– Jennifer T.
What a nice group of people! Everyone was friendly, helpful, and professional. | especially appreciated the amount of time Dr. Canales spent evaluating my daughter and explaining the treatment plan. Plus, this husband-wife team is super supportive of our local schools! My daughter especially enjoyed the swag bag and Frios pop. Highly recommend!
– Stephanie M.
Great experience! My daughter got evaluated for braces. She ended up not needing them right now. I love that they conservative with their approach. You can tell it’s not about money but it about the patients.
– LuCressia H.
My daughter is a newer patient of Canales Orthodontics. After her consultation visit, we met one on one with the doctor, who was very honest with us. In her opinion my daughter wasn’t quite ready for braces, she needed to lose all her baby teeth and had more growing to do. She explained that she would like to monitor her, which would be at no cost to me! How many other orthodontists would have put a set of braces on her anyway? This office is top notch, I’m so glad we chose Canales Orthodontics!!
– Becky M.
Canales is hands down the BEST! They truly care about you as a patient and won’t try to sell you things that you don’t need. They also don’t try to start treatments too early if your child still has a lot of growing to do. | have brought all my kids here and have nothing but positive things to say about them!
– Kelley A.
Best experience!!! The staff is polite and attentive. Everyone was very thorough, Dr. A. surprised me by saying we could wait to start. She explained why and that it was actually better for my son. She did this for my daughter as well, but i thought for sure my son would need to get started as he is missing some permanent teeth and others are crowding in the space. | love the honesty!
– Susan H.
Benefits of Interceptive Orthodontics
Children’s mouths may be small, but their orthodontic needs are complex!
Early orthodontic treatment, also called interceptive orthodontics, allows us to address developing issues in a more natural and efficient way, while your child’s jaw and facial bones are still growing.
By guiding jaw development at the right time, we can often prevent severe bite misalignments and reduce the need for more complex treatment (like jaw surgery or tooth extractions.)
Interceptive orthodontics for kids can help:
- Guide jaw growth and alignment while bones are still developing
- Reduce or eliminate the need for extractions or jaw surgery later
- Create space for permanent teeth to erupt properly
- Shorten or simplify future treatment (Phase II)
- Prevent crowding, crossbites, overbites, and other bite problems
- Improve facial balance and overall oral health
- Boost your child’s comfort, confidence, and self-esteem early on
Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment
In some cases, orthodontic treatment is recommended in two phases, timed to align with your child’s natural growth and development. While we do two-phase orthodontics when necessary, our conservative approach often allows us to treat most patients with just one well-timed phase of care.
Phase One Orthodontics
Phase I typically begins between ages 7 and 10, while your child still has some primary (baby) teeth. The goal of this phase is to take a preventive or interceptive approach, stopping problems from developing, correcting issues early, or guiding jaw growth to support healthy development.
Treatment during this early phase may include an orthodontic appliance, such as a palatal expander, to create space, correct tooth alignment, and/or influence jaw position.
Phase Two Orthodontics
Phase II is what most people think of as traditional orthodontic treatment. Once all of the permanent teeth have erupted, typically between the ages of 11 and 15, we may recommend braces or clear aligners to straighten the teeth and complete the bite correction process.
Every child is different, and so is their treatment plan. We’ll only recommend treatment when we believe the timing is right. At your complimentary consultation, we’ll give you honest guidance and a personalized plan, with no pressure, ever.
1
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
Book online or call/text our office to find a time that works for you.
2
Come in for Your First Visit
We’ll take a look, listen to your goals, and walk you through your options with no pressure.
3
Start Smiling
Begin your treatment with a personalized plan and a team who treats you like family.