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Anthem, Arizona3618 W. Anthem Way, Suite D120(623) 320-1222
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A young child sitting for a first orthodontic exam

Early treatment · Anthem, AZ

Early orthodontic treatment for kids in Anthem

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7. Most children seen that early leave with a date to come back rather than braces. Dr. Nicholas Romans, board-certified orthodontist, does the exam himself, and the first visit is free.

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A teenager tucking a clear aligner into its case beside a backpack and water bottle

Why you are here

Most 7-year-olds do not need braces yet

Parents usually land here because a dentist mentioned crowding, or a friend's child got an expander, and now there is a worry that something is being missed. Here is the honest version. The AAO recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7, and most children seen at 7 need watching rather than treating.

Watching is a real answer, not a brush-off. Dr. Romans looks at how the adult teeth are arriving and how the jaws are growing, then tells you which group your child is in. If it is the watching group, you leave with an interval to come back and nothing else, because starting treatment early on a child who does not need it only makes the whole thing longer.

Member, American Association of Orthodontists

Dr. Nicholas Romans, member, American Association of Orthodontists

See how braces for kids work →
A parent and child walking hand in hand along a desert sidewalk at golden hour

What the exam covers

What an early orthodontic exam looks at

  • Crossbites, and whether the jaw shifts sideways to bring the teeth together.
  • Crowding, measured against the room the adult teeth still have to come into.
  • Upper front teeth sitting far enough forward to be chipped in a playground fall.
  • Breathing, airway and jaw comfort, assessed in the same appointment rather than a separate one.
  • Digital scans and imaging instead of impression material, so a 7-year-old is not holding a tray of putty.
Read how insurance and financing work →
Dr. Nicholas Romans standing with a young patient in a treatment room at the Anthem office

What to expect

The same orthodontist at every visit

Dr. Romans owns this practice and treats every patient in it, so the person who decides your child does not need treatment yet is the same person who checks them a year later. Nobody hands the case to a rotating associate, and you never have to explain it twice.

Suite D120 sits at street level on W. Anthem Way with reserved parking outside, which matters when a monitoring visit takes 20 minutes and you are fitting it around a school day. Insurance is checked while you sit there, so you are not waiting on an estimate in the mail.

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Dr. Nicholas Romans, board-certified orthodontist, at the reception desk of his Anthem office

Meet Dr. Nicholas Romans, DMD, MSD

Growth and development is what he trained in

Dr. Romans spent a craniofacial cleft and palate fellowship at St. Louis Children's Hospital, a year given over to how children's faces and jaws grow. An early orthodontic exam asks a smaller version of that same question, which is why a 7-year-old check here is a growth assessment and not a sales appointment.

He has more than 7 years dedicated to orthodontics, including advanced specialty training, and he sees every patient in the practice himself.

  • Board-certified orthodontist
  • DMD, A.T. Still University
  • MSD and orthodontic residency, Saint Louis University
  • Craniofacial cleft & palate fellowship, St. Louis Children's Hospital
Read Dr. Romans's background →

Prefer us to call you?

Ask about your child's teeth without booking anything

Leave three details and we will call you back at the number you give us. Keep it general here. Anything specific about your child's teeth is better covered on the call or at the consultation, which is free either way.

The office calls you back at its earliest convenience.

Rather just call?

(623) 320-1222
We had a great consultation with Dr Romans. He was thorough and kind. My daughter felt really comfortable and we thought his treatment plan was solid and fairly priced.
Mariel Schmitt · Google review

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Three details, nothing medical. Please do not send health information through this form; we will cover all of that on the call.

Questions parents ask

Early treatment, answered plainly

When should my child first see an orthodontist?
Age 7. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by then, because the first adult molars and front teeth are usually in and the bite can finally be read. Waiting until every baby tooth is gone is fine for most children, but it hides the few problems that are easier to fix early.
Does an early visit mean my child gets braces at 7?
Usually not. Most children Dr. Romans sees at 7 need monitoring, so you leave with a date to come back rather than a treatment plan. Early treatment is for the smaller group with a crossbite, a jaw that shifts to close, severe crowding, or front teeth at real risk of injury.
What does early treatment cost in Anthem?
It depends on whether your child needs treatment at all, and at this age most do not yet. The consultation is free, so you can get that answer without paying for it. If treatment is recommended, your insurance is checked while you sit there and the figure you leave with is exact.
What problems does early treatment actually fix?
Crossbites, jaws that shift sideways to bring the teeth together, crowding severe enough to trap an adult tooth, and upper front teeth that sit far enough forward to be chipped in a fall. It can also guide a jaw while it is still growing, which is only possible before growth finishes.
What happens if we just wait?
For most children, nothing at all, and waiting is what Dr. Romans recommends most often at this age. The reason to check at 7 is that a small number of bite problems get longer or harder to correct once growth is finished, and a parent cannot tell which group their child is in by looking.
Will my child still need braces later?
Often yes. Early treatment usually corrects one specific problem and makes room, then a second phase of braces or aligners aligns everything once the adult teeth are all in. Dr. Romans says so at the first visit, so a second phase is planned from the start rather than added on later.
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Free consultation with Dr. Romans in Anthem, Arizona, at any age.

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