Children should be evaluated for orthodontic treatment around age 7. However, as a pediatric dentist in Decatur, IL, I monitor their oral development from the very first visit and can intervene if problems arise, such as:
My dental team and I offer general orthodontics, interceptive ...
Did you know that traditional braces are a regular part of pediatric dentistry? Many parents don’t realize that kids sometimes need orthodontic treatment, and at Jerger Pediatric Dentistry, we’re here to guide you through the process and answer all your questions.
Receiving orthodontic treatment from the same dentist your child is used to and trusts can often make the process ...
When your child needs orthodontic treatment, it can feel overwhelming and confusing. You want them to have the healthiest teeth and gums possible, but maybe you aren’t sure whether traditional braces are the way to go or if clear aligner therapy is better.
Fortunately, the expert dental team at Jerger Pediatric Dentistry can provide all the information you need, answer ...
A healthy, beautiful smile is one of the best gifts you can give your child! It provides good function for excellent nutrition and healthy eating, not to mention the confidence a beautiful smile brings that helps your child interact with others and achieve their goals.
Unfortunately, most people weren't born with perfect smiles, and many undergo orthodontic treatment to help straighten ...
Are you concerned about your child’s overbite or overcrowded teeth? Of course, these aesthetic concerns cause worry, but orthodontics is about more than smile beauty. Tooth misalignment and crowding can interrupt oral development and lead to dental health complications.
In this blog, our children’s dentist in Decatur shares:
Orthodontics is a specialized field of dentistry focusing on proactively addressing dental misalignment and other jaw irregularities. The goal is to improve smile appeal and bite integrity. As a result, orthodontics improves overall oral health by addressing issues like overcrowding, overbites, and underbites. By correcting these issues, orthodontics helps patients achieve healthier, more attractive smiles and better oral function.
Orthodontics is a field within dental science dedicated to preventing and treating facial and tooth-alignment irregularities. Orthodontics aims to enhance a person’s smile aesthetics and bite integrity by addressing crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, and crossbites.
This field of dentistry involves a variety of treatments, from traditional metal braces to more discreet ceramic braces, and clear aligner systems, all of whose ...
Pediatric orthodontics in Decatur, IL, and preemptive treatments like space maintainers and palatal expanders are sometimes necessary to optimize your child’s oral health. These measures also help with speech development and nutrition. Additionally, early intervention may mean your child spends less time in braces later or forgoes orthodontics altogether.
Straight teeth and an aligned bite also improve your child’s confidence when ...
Modern orthodontics in Decatur, IL, can help your child spend less time in traditional braces. Our early intervention and constant monitoring of your child’s oral development means we can intervene with palatial expanders and other techniques to help guide adult teeth into desirable or straighter positions.
Additionally, we can assist your teen with discreet orthodontics through Invisalign®.
Of ...
If you think your child needs to be a teenager before they might need orthodontic treatment, you might be surprised to learn that braces and other orthodontic treatments are a regular occurrence in pediatric dentistry. Although many children won’t need orthodontic treatment, having your regular dentist perform orthodontic treatment is best since your child will already be familiar and comfortable ...
One of the most important aspects of orthodontic treatment is home care. This is true because if your child wears braces in Decatur, IL, and doesn't maintain a diligent brushing and flossing routine, they could develop tooth decay or staining around the brackets, which will mar their beautiful smile once the braces are removed.
So here are some tips for maintaining ...
Children’s orthodontics in Decatur, IL, is a way to provide your child with straight and healthy teeth.
Because of our early intervention practices, we can also provide treatments that mean less time in braces in the future. Additionally, early intervention can mean your child will never need orthodontics!
Let’s explore orthodontic options and why they’re essential.
Spacers look like a rubber band placed ...
When it comes to your child's dental health, achieving a straight, attractive smile is often a top priority. Not only does a straight smile improve appearance, but it also boosts confidence and contributes to better oral health. With braces in Decatur, IL, your child can overcome tooth and jaw misalignments and attain a healthy, beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime.
At Jerger Pediatric Dentistry, we believe that every child deserves a confident and radiant smile. Sometimes, a child might need orthodontic treatment to correct bite and jaw misalignments and improve their oral health, speech, and appearance.
Before exploring the benefits of orthodontic treatment, we'd like to announce June's Smile of the Month Club!
Congratulations to these excellent brushers and flossers for ...
Spring has well and truly sprung. With Easter now behind us, the kids are in the final stretch of the school year, and all eyes are now on summer vacation. Here at Jerger Pediatric Dentistry, we know that this time of year, between Easter candy and end-of-school-year activities, can be a bit high-risk for children’s teeth and gums.
While your kids ...
Braces have long been considered a rite of passage for youngsters. Everyone, including kids and teens, can benefit from having straighter teeth and an aligned bite. Plus, braces can give you a more attractive smile. But before you take your kid to get braces, we want to review some need-to-knows about pediatric orthodontics.
Many people assume braces ...
Dr. Bret agrees with the American Dental Association that children should receive an orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Early orthodontics, also called interceptive orthodontics, can give your child the best opportunity for lifelong oral health and straight, symmetrical teeth. Dr. Bret can evaluate your child’s smile and recognize early signs of issues when they’re most treatable.
Every child is unique, so ...
Jerger Pediatric Dentistry is a children’s dental practice with comprehensive services. Your child’s smile is our top priority, and we believe in the importance of establishing good oral health at a young age. Dr. Bret Jerger is a skilled and experienced pediatric dentist in Decatur who offers orthodontics in Decatur, IL.
Traditional metal braces are widely used for children and teens ...
Updated September 15, 2025.
Parents often ask us whether there’s a genuine difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. First, a significant common thread between the two is that both dentists and orthodontists play vital roles in monitoring oral development and providing care and long-term education to children, teens, and parents alike. Both work toward the same goal, a healthy ...
On February 5th 2021, Jerger Pediatric Dentistry participated in the annual AAPD Give Kids A Smile Day to promote the need of proper dental care and funding for children and teens. This year over $19,000 was donated in dental services and over 30 children were treated. We are incredibly ...
Orthodontics in Decatur, IL help to straighten your teeth and correct a bad bite. If your teeth are crooked, crowded inside your mouth, protrude from your mouth, or do not meet correctly to create a good bite, an orthodontist can use braces to help you rectify those issues.
With time and care, braces and other ...
Orthodontic treatment is an investment in your son or daughter's precious smile. The confidence that your child gets from their smile is priceless.
With that said, orthodontic treatment is also a financial investment. The good news is that there are many ways to fit your child's braces comfortably into your budget.
Orthodontic treatment varies ...
If you had braces as a child, you probably remember a mouth full of metal and not being able to eat some of your favorite Halloween candies.
While it’s true that orthodontics have come a long way in recent years, it is still hard for many pediatric orthodontic patients to deal with having braces or other devices in their mouth. If ...
It’s not easy to face the fact that your child needs orthodontic treatment. You might have concerns about the cost involved and whether or not there will be any unforeseen complications. With a bit of planning, however, you can ensure that orthodontic treatment goes well for both you and your child.
To learn more about orthodontics, we invite you to contact ...