By Stellar Smiles Ortho
September, 2026
At your child’s first orthodontic consultation at Stellar Smiles Ortho, Dr. J evaluates the teeth, bite, jaws, and facial development. Our diagnostic records include a panoramic X-ray (Panorex), a Lateral Cephalometric X-ray (profile X-ray), and a digital iTero scan. If your dental provider has already taken within the past 6 months, you can provide it to our office rather than having it taken again.
These diagnostic records allow Dr. J to evaluate much more than whether your child’s teeth appear straight. They help us understand how the teeth are developing, how the upper and lower jaws relate to one another, how the bite is developing, and how your child’s orthodontic development relates to facial growth.
Most importantly, coming for an orthodontic evaluation does not mean we have already decided your child needs treatment.
The first step is understanding how your child is growing.
What Does Dr. J Look for?
A child’s orthodontic evaluation involves much more than looking at the alignment of the teeth.
Dr. J evaluates your child’s overall dental and facial development, including:
- How the upper and lower teeth fit together
- Upper and lower jaw relationships
- Jaw growth and development
- Dental arch and palatal width
- Crowding or spacing
- Available space for permanent teeth
- Crossbites
- Overbites and underbites
- Tooth eruption
- Missing, delayed, or unusually positioned teeth
- Facial growth and symmetry
- The timing of baby tooth loss
- Oral habits that may affect development
We may also ask parents about things they notice at home, including mouth breathing, snoring, or nighttime teeth grinding.
These observations can provide additional information and, when appropriate, may indicate that further evaluation by another healthcare professional should be considered.
What X-Rays Are Taken at the First Orthodontic Consultation?
At Stellar Smiles Ortho, our diagnostic orthodontic records include two important types of X-rays:
Panoramic X-Ray (Panorex)
A Panorex provides a broad view of your child’s teeth and surrounding structures, including permanent teeth that may still be developing below the gums.
This helps Dr. J evaluate tooth development, eruption, position, and other factors that cannot be fully evaluated simply by looking inside the mouth.
If your child’s dental provider has already taken within the past 6 months, you can provide it to our office so we do not need to take another one.
Lateral Cephalometric X-Ray (Profile X-Ray)
We also take a Lateral Cephalometric X-ray, sometimes called a cephalometric X-ray or profile X-ray.
This side-view image allows Dr. J to evaluate the relationship between the teeth, upper jaw, lower jaw, and facial structures.
For a growing child, this information can be particularly valuable because orthodontics isn’t only about tooth alignment.
We are also evaluating growth, jaw relationships, the bite, and facial development.
Will My Child Have a Digital Scan?
Yes. Every patient at Stellar Smiles Ortho receives a digital iTero scan.
The iTero scanner creates a detailed 3D digital model of your child’s teeth and bite without traditional impression material.
The scan helps Dr. J evaluate:
- Tooth position
- The bite
- Crowding and spacing
- Dental arch shape
- Available space
- Relationships between the upper and lower teeth
Together, the clinical examination + Panorex + Lateral Cephalometric X-ray + iTero digital scan provide Dr. J with a comprehensive set of information for evaluating your child’s orthodontic development.
They also establish valuable baseline records that can be used to evaluate changes as your child grows.
Will My Child Start Treatment at the First Visit?
Not necessarily.
Many children who come to Stellar Smiles Ortho around age 6 may simply need to be monitored.
If everything is developing appropriately, Dr. J may recommend observation and periodic orthodontic checkups while the permanent teeth continue to erupt and the jaws continue to grow.
Earlier evaluation does not mean earlier treatment. It means earlier awareness.
What If Dr. J Finds a Developing Problem?
If Dr. J identifies a problem that may benefit from treatment while your child is growing, he will explain what he sees, why it matters, and whether there may be an advantage to addressing it now.
This is where Interceptive Treatment may be considered.
Interceptive Treatment is not about treating every child as early as possible. It is about recognizing specific developing problems where intervening during growth may provide an advantage.
Depending on your child’s diagnosis, options may include:
- Invisalign First
- Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE)
- Another orthodontic appliance or approach
- Continued observation until the appropriate time
The diagnosis comes first. The technology comes second.
What Happens After the Consultation?
At the end of the evaluation, parents should have a clearer understanding of where their child is developmentally.
There are generally three possibilities:
1. Everything looks good—continue monitoring.
Your child may not need orthodontic treatment at this time.
2. We see something we want to watch.
Dr. J may recommend periodic observation so we can monitor growth, tooth eruption, jaw development, and the bite.
3. Interceptive Treatment may be beneficial.
If there is an advantage to treating a developing problem during growth, Dr. J will explain the diagnosis, treatment options, timing, and goals.
Observation is also an orthodontic recommendation.
Sometimes the best treatment decision is to wait.
The Bottom Line
Your child’s first orthodontic consultation at Stellar Smiles Ortho is a comprehensive evaluation of the teeth, bite, jaws, and facial development—not simply a check to see whether the teeth are straight.
Our diagnostic records include:
- Panoramic X-ray (Panorex) — unless a current one is provided by your dental provider
- Lateral Cephalometric X-ray (profile X-ray)
- iTero 3D digital scan
Together with Dr. J’s clinical examination, these records help us understand how your child is developing and establish an important baseline for the future.
With 27 years of orthodontic experience, Dr. J’s goal is not to treat children as early as possible.
The goal is to identify developing concerns early and treat at the right time.
Schedule Your Child’s First Orthodontic Evaluation
If your child is approaching age 6—or is older and has never had an orthodontic evaluation—schedule a consultation with Dr. J at Stellar Smiles Ortho.
We’ll evaluate your child’s development, obtain comprehensive diagnostic records, explain what we see, answer your questions, and let you know whether the best next step is observation or treatment.
Stellar Smiles Ortho is located in Grapevine, Texas, and proudly serves children, teens, and adults from Grapevine, Euless, Colleyville, Southlake, Bedford, Hurst, and surrounding communities.
