New Patients · For Children
Growth-respecting care for kids ages 7–12 — and the honesty to tell you when treatment can wait.
5.0★ on Google · 67 reviews · LA Top Orthodontist 2025
Maybe their bite looks off when they smile. Maybe their pediatric dentist mentioned crowding. Maybe they've started losing baby teeth in odd places. Or maybe you just heard "kids should see an orthodontist by age seven" and you're wondering if that's right.
You're in the right place. Here's how we think about kids at SmileHaus.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child have their first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. By that age, enough permanent teeth have erupted for an orthodontist to spot — and gently guide — issues that are far easier to address while a child is still growing.
The reason timing matters comes down to biology. A few specific problems respond to early treatment in a way they simply won't once growth finishes:
Crowding. When the jaw is too narrow for the adult teeth that are on their way, catching it during growth can create room — sometimes avoiding extractions later. Wait until the jaw has finished developing and the same problem may only be fixable by removing permanent teeth or with surgery.
Crossbite. When upper and lower teeth meet in the wrong pattern, a child can start shifting the jaw to one side to chew. Left alone, that habit can pull jaw growth off-center over years. Corrected early, it's often a short, straightforward fix.
Jaw development. Underbites, deep overbites, and asymmetric growth are all easier to guide while the bones are still forming. The same correction attempted after the growth window closes is longer, harder, and occasionally not possible without surgery.
Here's what nobody says in the marketing: none of this means every seven-year-old needs braces. Far from it. Most kids who come in for a first visit don't need any treatment at all — they just need to be on our radar. We won't recommend treatment if it isn't needed yet, and Dr. Thompson would rather see your child twice a year for a two-minute check than start something early for the sake of starting.
At your child's first visit, Dr. Thompson is looking for:
If any of these are present, a short Phase 1 treatment now can mean faster, simpler treatment when their adult teeth come in. If nothing's wrong, we put your child on a six-month observation schedule — no charge, no pressure.
First, the plain-language version: Phase 1 is a short, targeted treatment done while your child still has most of their baby teeth — usually between ages seven and ten. Phase 2 is the comprehensive treatment most people picture as "braces," done once the adult teeth are mostly in, typically during the teen years. Many children need neither. Some need only Phase 1. A smaller number need both.
When early treatment is indicated, Phase 1 typically runs eight to twelve months and addresses one specific goal — make space for adult teeth, correct a crossbite, guide jaw growth. It's not "braces for a child who doesn't need them." It's a focused intervention that often prevents more complex, more expensive treatment later. "Growth-respecting" means exactly that: we work with the growth that's already happening rather than forcing a result the biology isn't ready for.
Phase 1 isn't always followed by Phase 2 — sometimes Phase 1 is all your child will ever need. And when Phase 2 is needed as a teen, the case is usually faster and simpler because Phase 1 set the foundation. If your teen does eventually need comprehensive treatment, that's typically our Pitts21 PRO braces or, for the right mild-to-moderate case, Spark Clear Aligners — you can read about both, and about treatment for teens, whenever you're ready. For now, the only step that matters is the evaluation.
FAQ
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. By seven, enough permanent teeth have come in for an orthodontist to spot developing issues — but seeing an orthodontist at seven does not mean starting braces at seven. For most kids, the first visit is simply to get on the radar and confirm nothing needs attention yet.
Often, yes — and that is usually good news. Most seven- to nine-year-olds who come in for a first visit need no treatment at all. Early treatment is only worth doing when there is a specific problem that is genuinely easier to fix while a child is still growing, like a crossbite or severe crowding. If your child does not have one of those, Dr. Thompson will say so rather than start treatment early.
Our team is built around making kids comfortable, and the first visit has no needles, no drilling, and nothing that pokes — just photos, a gentle look, and a conversation. Most kids leave asking when they can come back. Parents are welcome in the room the entire time.
For most issues, waiting is completely fine — that is exactly why we put kids who do not need treatment on a simple six-month observation schedule instead of starting anything. But a few problems, like a crossbite pulling the jaw off-center or severe crowding with no room for adult teeth, get harder and more expensive to correct once growth finishes. When early treatment genuinely matters, Dr. Thompson will explain why; when it does not, she will tell you to wait.
Phase 1 (usually ages seven to ten) is a short, targeted treatment while a child still has baby teeth — making room for adult teeth, correcting a crossbite, or guiding jaw growth. Phase 2 is comprehensive treatment once most adult teeth are in, typically as a teen. Not every child who has Phase 1 needs Phase 2, and when Phase 2 is needed it is usually faster because Phase 1 set the foundation. Many kids never need Phase 1 at all.
Then we will not recommend it — Dr. Thompson takes a conservative, growth-respecting approach and does not treat just because she can. Many kids leave their first visit with a "see you in six months" plan and nothing else. Those observation visits are complimentary, so there is no cost to simply keeping an eye on things.
Cost varies by case, and we do not quote a figure on a web page because any number here would be wrong for most families. Your child's first visit is complimentary, and you will leave with a written fee quote if treatment is recommended. We offer in-house financing designed for family budgets and verify your insurance for you. Cost is never a reason to skip the evaluation.
More orthodontic questions parents ask are answered in our Braces 101 FAQ.
It's genuinely free — a complimentary exam, digital X-rays, and photographs, with no charge and no obligation to start anything. It's friendly, and it takes about 45 minutes:
You'll leave knowing exactly where your child stands — whether that's a specific treatment recommendation, a six-month watch-and-wait, or nothing needed at all. And if cost is on your mind, we'll walk through financing and insurance at the same visit, so you have the full picture before you decide anything. No commitment, no pressure.
Patient voices
We are truly at a loss for words to express how grateful we are for Dr. Thompson and her incredible team. After nearly four years, our daughter just had her braces removed, marking the end of a long journey toward building her beautiful smile. From the beginning, Dr. Thompson never hesitated to take on her complex case, and she guided us every step of the way with compassion and expertise.
We cannot thank Dr. Karla Thompson and her amazing team enough for the incredible care they provided our son throughout his braces journey. From the very beginning to the exciting day he got them off, they were encouraging, supportive, and truly hands-on every step of the way. Dr. Thompson not only gave our son a beautiful smile, but she and her staff also made the entire process a positive experience. They were always patient, kind, and willing to answer our questions, which made us feel comfortable and confident. We are so grateful for the dedication and care they put into making this journey a success. Thank you, Dr. Thompson and team, for going above and beyond — you've made such a difference for our son and our family! We highly recommend them to anyone looking for orthodontic care.
Excellent experience so far! We're right in the middle of it with our son and couldn't be more appreciative of how they do their work. We haven't hesitated to give a few of our family friends their contact information when asking about an orthodontist. Our son's alignment has vastly improved while not having much discomfort.
Dr. Karla Thompson trained at Howard University and has been practicing orthodontics since 2001 — more than two decades of watching how children's jaws and bites actually develop. She's a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the California Association of Orthodontists, and the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, and she was named one of Los Angeles' Top Orthodontists for 2025. Her rule for kids is simple: if treatment isn't needed yet, she'll tell you. You can read more about Dr. Thompson if that helps you decide.
What that looks like in practice:
Your child's first visit is complimentary, no charge to find out where they stand.