Orthodontics For Kids In Dacono, CO

Most kids don't need braces at age 7. A few do. Telling the difference is the entire job of an early orthodontic evaluation, and it's the part most practices skip.

At Mini Miners, a board-certified pediatric dentist checks your child's bite and jaw growth, then tells you plainly: treat now, wait and watch, or see a specialist. We recommend early treatment only when the evidence says it will change the outcome.

When early orthodontics actually helps, and when waiting is the smarter call

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child get an orthodontic check by age 7. That check is not a green light for braces. For most 7-year-olds, the right move is to monitor growth and do nothing yet.

Here's the part the ranking pages leave out. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis in Medicina looked at children treated in the mixed-dentition years and asked whether early treatment produces better long-term results than simply waiting. It found short-term improvements, but no consistent long-term advantage over treating later. The authors' takeaway: routine early treatment shouldn't be recommended for every child, and is best reserved for specific problems.

So we hold Phase 1 to a real standard. We recommend it when your child has one of these, where acting early genuinely changes what happens next:

Functional crossbite

The jaw shifts to one side to bite. Left alone, it can push jaw growth off-center. This is one of the clearest reasons to treat early.

Front teeth that stick out

Upper front teeth that protrude are far more likely to get chipped or knocked out. Early treatment lowers that injury risk.

Severe crowding

When there's not enough room for adult teeth, early space management can prevent impacted teeth and reduce extractions later.

Harmful oral habits

Thumb sucking, prolonged pacifier use, or tongue thrusting that's actively reshaping the bite can be intercepted while it's still easy.

Our position: if your child doesn't have a clear early indication, we'll tell you to wait, and we'll say so at the first visit. Waiting is free. Treating a problem that would have resolved on its own is not.

What Phase 1 orthodontics is

Phase 1 is early, targeted treatment during the mixed-dentition years, roughly ages 6 to 10, when a child still has a blend of baby and permanent teeth. It fixes one specific problem, not the whole smile.

It's often not braces at all. Depending on the issue, Phase 1 might use a palatal expander to widen a narrow upper jaw, a small removable appliance to correct a single crossbite, or a few brackets on select teeth. The goal is narrow and practical: guide jaw growth, make room for adult teeth, and reduce the risk of a harder problem later. Full alignment, if it's still needed, usually waits for the teen years.

Phase 1 is not Phase 2. Phase 1 solves an early, specific issue. Phase 2 is comprehensive treatment in the teens, once the permanent teeth are in. Many kids who have Phase 1 still need a shorter Phase 2 later. Any practice that implies early treatment means no braces as a teenager is overselling it.

How orthodontic coverage really works here: private insurance, Medicaid, and CHP+

Most private dental plans include a child orthodontic benefit. Medicaid works very differently, and a lot of local pages get this wrong.

Private dental insurance

Many plans cover a set share of orthodontics for kids up to a lifetime maximum, commonly $1,000 to $3,000. Coverage varies plan to plan, and some basic plans exclude braces entirely. We verify your specific benefit before treatment so you know your real out-of-pocket.

Health First Colorado (Medicaid)

Covers braces only for a severe, medically necessary malocclusion, scored on Colorado's Orthodontic Criteria Index, and only with prior authorization. Approved cases are paid in full. Clear aligners and other cosmetic upgrades are not covered. Treatment must finish before the child turns 21, and only providers enrolled as orthodontic specialists can bill it.

CHP+ (Child Health Plan Plus) covers preventive and basic dental care for eligible kids but does not cover comprehensive braces. If your child may qualify for Medicaid orthodontic coverage on medical grounds, we'll help you understand the criteria and the referral path to an enrolled orthodontic specialist.

Treatment options for younger patients

We match the appliance to the problem, and we start with the least invasive option that will work.

Clear aligners for kids

Aligners now have true Phase 1 options for children in mixed dentition, handling expansion, alignment, and eruption guidance without metal brackets. They're removable for eating and brushing, and there are no food restrictions. Not every young case suits aligners, and we'll tell you if yours doesn't.

Expanders & removable appliances

For a narrow jaw or a simple crossbite, a palatal expander or a removable appliance is often the right tool. They come out for meals and brushing, which makes them easier on kids and on parents.

Limited (partial) braces

When a few teeth need real control, we place brackets on just those teeth rather than a full set. Shorter, cheaper, and focused on the actual problem.

The airway question, answered honestly

You may have read that widening a child's palate can fix snoring or sleep apnea. The honest version: orthodontics alone has not been shown to cure sleep apnea, and no dentist can diagnose it.

The American Association of Orthodontists is clear on this. Orthodontists should screen for signs of sleep-disordered breathing and refer to a physician, because only a physician can diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. Conventional orthodontic treatment has never been proven to cause it, and claims that braces or expanders cure it run ahead of the evidence.

What that means in our office: if we see red flags at your child's visit, such as chronic snoring, mouth breathing, or restless sleep, we'll flag them and point you to your pediatrician or a sleep specialist. We won't sell you expansion as a sleep-apnea cure.

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

One office for dental and early orthodontics

Your child's cleanings, checkups, and Phase 1 care happen in the same familiar place, with the same team. No coordinating between two offices, and the dentist watching your child's growth is the one who flags an ortho issue the moment it appears.

We're in Erie Commons at Briggs St. and Erie Pkwy, between I-25 and 287, with easy parking and a short hop from the Carbon Valley.

What the first visit looks like

1. Look

We examine your child's bite, jaw growth, and how the adult teeth are coming in, with X-rays if needed, taken while they watch a movie.

2. Explain

We show you what we see in plain language and give you one of three answers: treat now, watch and recheck, or refer to a specialist.

3. Plan the money

If treatment makes sense, you get the actual fee, your insurance benefit, and payment options before you commit to anything.

FAQs: early orthodontics for kids

At what age should my child in Dacono see someone about orthodontics?

By age 7, following the American Association of Orthodontists' recommendation. Most children won't need treatment at that point. The visit exists to catch the small number of problems that are genuinely easier to fix while the jaw is still growing.

Does my child really need Phase 1 (early) treatment?

Usually not. We recommend Phase 1 only for specific issues: a functional crossbite, front teeth that protrude enough to risk injury, severe crowding, or harmful oral habits that are reshaping the bite. A 2025 research review found routine early treatment doesn't reliably beat waiting for most children, so we don't treat unless there's a clear reason.

Can young kids get Invisalign or clear aligners?

Some can. Clear aligners now have Phase 1 options designed for children in mixed dentition. They're removable for eating and brushing, but they aren't right for every case. We'll tell you honestly whether aligners fit your child's problem.

Will my child still need braces as a teenager?

Often, yes. Phase 1 fixes one early problem; it doesn't replace comprehensive treatment. Many children still need a shorter, simpler Phase 2 in their teens. Early treatment can make that later phase easier, but it rarely eliminates it.

Can orthodontics fix my child's snoring or sleep apnea?

Not on its own, and no dentist can diagnose sleep apnea. Only a physician can. We screen for warning signs and refer you to the right doctor. We won't claim braces or an expander will cure a breathing disorder, because the evidence doesn't support that.