Pre-Orthodontic Guidance Program
Helping children grow into healthy, confident smiles, at exactly the right time.
Know your child's smile is developing exactly as it should.
At Johnsonlink Orthodontics, we are proud to offer our Pre-Orthodontic Guidance Program, a complimentary observation program designed to monitor your child’s dental growth and development over time.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age seven, though some children may benefit from being seen even earlier. Regular observation allows us to monitor growth patterns and recommend treatment only when the timing is right.
Rather than beginning treatment too early or waiting too long, we carefully track your child's developing smile so every decision is made with thoughtful planning and long-term success in mind.
Our goal is simple: to guide your child's smile as it develops in a way that feels comfortable, informed, and completely stress-free for families.
Best of all, the entire observation program is complimentary during the monitoring phase.
What you can expect
Periodic Growth Visits
Your child will be seen at regular intervals so we can monitor dental and jaw development and identify any changes over time.
Underbite
Digital Imaging
When needed, digital X-rays or images may be taken to help us closely monitor development with accuracy and care.
Complimentary
Observation visits are completely free throughout the program. Parents LOVE reading benefits instead of features.
Benefits of Early Guidance
Overbite
Guiding growing smiles, at no cost to your family
Professional Guidance
If treatment is ever recommended, Dr. Johnson or Dr. Lingenbrink will walk you through everything so you feel informed, prepared, & confident in next steps.
Why Parents love this program
No pressure
Not every child needs treatment right away. We'll simply monitor growth and let you know if the right time comes.
During observation visits, we monitor jaw growth, tooth eruption, bite development, and oral habits to make sure everything is progressing as expected.
What we watch for
Every child's smile develops differently.
Overjet
Peace of mind
The lower jaw extends forward, causing the lower front teeth to overlap the upper front teeth.
Openbite
The upper front teeth stick out too far, or when the lower teeth don’t extend forward enough to meet them.
Crowding
The upper front teeth cover too much of the lower front teeth. In some cases, this overlap is so deep that the lower teeth may bite into the roof of the mouth.
Thumb sucking
Excess space between teeth, which may be caused by missing teeth or cosmetic concerns.
Insufficient room for teeth to erupt, causing misalignment or rotations.
Crossbite
Spacing
Top and bottom teeth do not come together, often due to habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting.
Upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth, which may affect single or multiple teeth.
Prolonged thumb sucking can damage teeth & jaw alignment once permanent teeth begin to erupt.
Frequently asked questions
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No. Most children simply benefit from monitoring while their permanent teeth develop.
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Observation visits are typically scheduled every 6–9 months, depending on your child's needs.
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Yes! Our observation visits are completely complimentary.
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Not always. The purpose of the program is to determine the ideal timing and treatment, if any treatment becomes necessary.
Tongue Thrusting
Misplaced pressure from the tongue can shift teeth & affect jaw growth.
You're part of the Team
We encourage parents and guardians to attend every observation visit. Together, we'll answer questions, review your child's growth, and make sure you always understand what we're seeing and why.
Early Monitoring
We carefully track your child's dental development so we can identify concerns before they become bigger problems.
Growth Guidance
As your child grows, we monitor jaw development and tooth eruption to determine the ideal timing for treatment.
Confidence
Regular checkups give families confidence knowing their child's smile is developing just as it should.
Healthy Smiles for Life
Every child develops differently. We create recommendations based on your child's unique growth.
Personalized Care
Thoughtful monitoring today helps build the foundation for a healthy, confident smile in the years ahead.
Better Timing
Treatment works best when it's started at the right time, not too early and not too late.
