Orthodontics For Kids In Arvada, CO

Mini Miners provides Phase 1 orthodontics for children ages 6 to 10: early braces, Invisalign First, and appliances that guide a child's bite while the jaw is still growing. We are a pediatric-only practice about 30 minutes north of Arvada in Erie, and Arvada families make the drive for our child specialists, every level of sedation, and treatment advice that tells you when your child does not need braces yet. Your child's regular dental care and orthodontics happen under one roof.

What Is Phase 1 Orthodontics?

Phase 1 orthodontics is early treatment that starts while your child still has a mix of baby and permanent teeth, usually between ages 6 and 10. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7, because that is when a specialist can spot bite and spacing problems early enough to guide them (AAO).

Age 7 does not mean braces at 7. Most children who get checked are simply monitored. When early treatment is the right call, it can:

Guide jaw growth into a better position
Make room for permanent teeth to come in straight
Correct crossbites before they pull the jaw off-center
Lower the chance of pulling permanent teeth later
Shorten or simplify a second phase of braces in the teen years

The Honest Version: Early Treatment Is Not Always Better

Here is what most Arvada practice pages leave out. For the most common reason parents ask about early braces, upper front teeth that stick out, the largest body of evidence found only one clear advantage to starting early: fewer broken front teeth. In the Cochrane review of 27 studies, about 19% of children treated early chipped or broke a front tooth, versus 30% of children who waited.

For the final result, how the bite lines up when everything is done, starting at 8 did not beat waiting for a single phase of treatment later. Newer 2024-2026 reviews reach the same balanced conclusion: early treatment clearly helps specific problems, but it is not automatically better for every child.

So we treat early when the diagnosis supports it: crossbites, severe crowding, large overjets that put front teeth at risk, and certain jaw-growth problems. When early treatment would not change your child's long-term result, we tell you to wait and we monitor for free at regular checkups. You should be suspicious of any office that recommends Phase 1 for every child.

Signs Your Child May Need Early Treatment

You can spot most Phase 1 signals at home before a checkup. Around ages 6 to 8, look for:

Crowded, overlapping, or blocked-out front teeth
Top and bottom teeth that do not meet when your child bites down
A jaw that shifts sideways or clicks when opening
Upper teeth that close behind the lower teeth (a crossbite)
Thumb sucking or pacifier use past age 4
Mouth breathing, snoring, or trouble chewing
Baby teeth lost much earlier or later than usual

One sign does not mean braces. It means an evaluation is worth it. We check every one of these at routine visits, so most families never book a separate orthodontic appointment to find out.

Common Issues We Treat

Crossbites

A crossbite is when upper teeth close inside the lower teeth instead of outside them. Front crossbites affect the four front teeth. Back crossbites affect the molars and often pull the growing jaw off-center. Caught early, a crossbite is one of the simplest problems to correct, sometimes with a removable appliance alone.

Severe Crowding

Crowding happens when the jaw has no room for the permanent teeth lined up behind the baby teeth. Left alone, it can trap teeth below the gum, make brushing harder, and raise cavity risk. Early treatment widens the arch so adult teeth have somewhere to go.

Oral Habits

Thumb sucking, long-term pacifier use, and tongue thrusting push on growing teeth and can open the bite or flare the front teeth. We use gentle appliances and coaching to stop the habit and let the bite settle before permanent teeth arrive.

Our Treatment Options

We match the appliance to the problem. Simpler issues get simpler tools.

Invisalign First for Kids

Invisalign First is the clear-aligner system built for growing mouths with a mix of baby and adult teeth. Aligners come out for meals, brushing, and sports, so there are no food rules and fewer broken-bracket emergencies. Best for mild to moderate crowding and spacing in an active child.

Removable Appliances

For a single, defined problem like a simple crossbite, a removable appliance is often all a child needs. It comes out to eat and to brush, which makes it the easiest option on kids and parents.

Limited Braces

Kid-friendly braces on only the few teeth that need correcting, not a full set. Focusing on specific teeth keeps treatment shorter and lower in cost than full braces.

Does Colorado Medicaid Cover Braces for Kids?

Sometimes, but the bar is specific, and this is where families get surprised. Health First Colorado covers orthodontics only for members age 20 and younger, and only when the case qualifies as a severe handicapping malocclusion through prior authorization.

Qualifying is scored, not judged by eye. The state uses the Handicapping Labio-Lingual Deviation (HLD) index, which measures overjet, overbite, open bite, crossbite, crowding, and similar issues in millimeters. Most cases need a score of 26 or higher to qualify, and a score of 28 or more is considered severe (DentaQuest Colorado orthodontic criteria). Some conditions qualify on their own, including cleft lip or palate, severely impacted teeth, a deep overbite that is damaging the palate, and large skeletal discrepancies.

What this means in practice:

Purely cosmetic or mild crowding cases are denied.
When a case is approved, treatment is covered with no separate copay for the child.
The program does not pay for clear or ceramic upgrades, and providers cannot bill you the difference.

Note: Mini Miners accepts major private insurance and our membership plan; we are not a Medicaid ortho provider. If your family relies on Health First Colorado and your child does not meet the HLD threshold, Colorado nonprofits such as Dental Aid offer Phase 1 and comprehensive orthodontics on a sliding scale, often well below private-practice fees, and accept Medicaid and CHP+ (Dental Aid). We would rather tell you that than waste your consultation.

A Calm Experience for Anxious Kids

We build the whole visit around the child, not the other way around. That includes:

A choice of over 70 movies, plus flavor menus for toothpaste and fluoride, so your child customizes the visit
X-rays taken in the treatment room with a camera-style machine while your child keeps watching a movie
Every level of sedation, mild, moderate, and deep, with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) available in every room
Child-sized instruments and sensors built for small mouths
A soft tissue laser and adjustable chairs
Parents welcome to stay with their child through treatment
A playful waiting area with games, a slide, books, and coloring

We explain and show each step before we do it, and we keep appointments positive. For sensory-sensitive children and children with special needs, Dr. Grover has extensive personal and clinical experience and offers low-stress "happy visits" to build comfort first.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Exam and digital records. We check your child's teeth, jaw, and bite and take any images needed.
A straight answer. We tell you whether your child needs treatment now, should be monitored, or needs nothing. We often say wait.
Clear cost in writing. If treatment makes sense, you get the options, the price, and the insurance math on paper.
Start when you are ready. No pressure, no same-day commitment.

Already a patient with an after-hours emergency? Call (303) 500-3202 and press #2 to reach the on-call pediatric dentist. We offer same-business-day emergency visits for existing patients whenever possible.

FAQs

At what age should my child first be seen for orthodontics?

By age 7. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation then, when enough permanent teeth are in for a specialist to spot problems. We build this check into routine visits.

Does my child actually need Phase 1, or can we wait?

Many children can wait. The evidence shows early treatment clearly helps specific problems like crossbites, severe crowding, and protruding front teeth, but it does not improve the final bite for every child. We recommend it only when the diagnosis supports it.

Does Colorado Medicaid pay for braces?

Only for members age 20 and younger whose case scores as a severe handicapping malocclusion (an HLD score of about 26 or higher) or who have an auto-qualifying condition like cleft palate. Cosmetic and mild cases are not covered. Mini Miners accepts major private insurance and our membership plan.

Invisalign or braces, which is better for my child?

It depends on the problem. Invisalign First suits mild to moderate crowding and kids who want a removable option. Limited braces or a fixed appliance handle bite issues aligners cannot. We pick the simplest tool that solves it.

Is Phase 1 treatment painful?

No. Most children feel only mild, short-lived soreness when an appliance is placed or adjusted.

How long does Phase 1 take?

Usually 9 to 18 months, depending on what is being corrected.

Do you accept our insurance?

We accept all major private dental insurance and offer a membership plan for families without it. Bring your card and we will confirm your benefits before treatment.

Is the drive from Arvada worth it?

That is your call. We are about 30 minutes north in Erie. Families travel to us for a pediatric-only team, every level of sedation, and honest advice about whether their child needs treatment at all.

Why Dacono families make the short drive to Mini Miners

A pediatric dentist who works only with kids

Dr. Alison Grover completed her pediatric dental residency at UCLA and is a board-certified Diplomate in pediatric dentistry. She also holds a degree in child psychology from Wellesley College, which shows up in how calm the appointments feel. For complex cases that need a full Phase 2, we'll refer you to a trusted orthodontist rather than stretch beyond early, interceptive care.

Comfort that's built into the room, not promised on a poster

Over 70 movies, plus flavor menus for cleaning paste and fluoride
Kid-sized instruments and sensors, and a camera-style X-ray so kids can keep watching their movie
All levels of sedation, from nitrous (piped into every room) to deeper options for anxious or sensory-sensitive kids
A soft-tissue laser and a genuinely playful waiting room