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You can bring your child to an orthodontist any time, no referral required. Dr. Courtney Lavigne explains how referrals actually work, why practices differ more than parents realize, and why second opinions are always welcome.
Did you know you don't need a referral to see an orthodontist? You can walk in, get a second opinion, or have your child evaluated any time you want.
Most parents don't know this. They assume the path runs through the dentist: wait for the dentist to say it's time, get the name of a practice, call that practice. That's how it often happens, but it's not how it has to happen.
Dentists refer to orthodontists they know. That's not a criticism; it's just how it works. Relationships get built over years, and the referral usually goes to the same one or two practices out of habit and trust.
But orthodontics isn't the same everywhere. The training, the philosophy, and the technology vary significantly from practice to practice. Some orthodontists focus on straightening the teeth that are there. Others, like us, look at how the jaws and airway are developing and try to guide growth before problems set in. Ten orthodontists can look at the same child and produce ten different plans. The referral you get reflects who your dentist knows, not necessarily the full range of what's available for your child.
Worth clearing up while we're here: an orthodontist is a dentist who went on to complete a full-time residency of two to three additional years focused entirely on tooth movement, jaw growth, and facial development. Your dentist takes care of the overall health of the teeth and gums. An orthodontist specializes in how everything fits and grows together. At Anchor Orthodontics, orthodontics is the only thing we do.
We see complex cases every day that were told to wait. Sometimes waiting is genuinely fine, and we'll tell you that. But timing matters more in orthodontics than in almost any other area of dentistry, because jaw growth has windows that close. The upper jaw stops developing around age 9 or 10. A child who would have been a simple early-intervention case at 7 can become a much more involved case at 12.
That's why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child be seen by age 7. Not for treatment. For a look.
You don't need anyone's permission to get a second opinion, and no good provider is offended by one. If your child has been evaluated elsewhere and something didn't sit right with you, bring the plan in and we'll walk through it together.
Consultations for kids at Anchor Orthodontics are complimentary, and no referral is needed. We have offices in Providence and Wakefield, Rhode Island. Call (401) 782-1221 or request a consultation.
