If your child’s dentist has mentioned crowding, or a baby tooth is refusing to give up its spot, an orthodontic evaluation is the next sensible step. Our Liberty Lake office at 21950 E Country Vista Dr, Suite 100A in Liberty Lake sees children from Liberty Lake, Greenacres, Otis Orchards, and Newman Lake, and Dr. Josh Johnson evaluates every one of them personally.
When To Have Your Child Seen
By age 7, per the American Association of Orthodontists. That is an evaluation, not a commitment: at that age we can see how the jaws are growing and where permanent teeth are headed, which is the information that determines whether early treatment would help.
Signs worth an appointment sooner include crowded or overlapping teeth, difficulty biting or chewing, a jaw that shifts when closing, thumb-sucking or persistent mouth-breathing, and baby teeth lost unusually early or late. The visit is free, so there is no cost to finding out.
Treat Now, Or Wait?
This is the question we actually answer at that first appointment, and the answer for most children is wait and monitor. We will schedule periodic growth checks and start when the timing genuinely helps.
Some children do benefit from early, targeted treatment — widening a narrow arch, correcting a crossbite before it wears enamel, or making room for a permanent tooth at risk of being blocked. Our other treatments page explains two-phase treatment and who it fits. When a full course of braces is the right call, our braces page covers both metal and tooth-colored clear brackets, and clear aligners are an option for older children who will wear them consistently.
Fitting Treatment Into Family Life
Adjustment appointments are short and spaced several weeks apart, and we are open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. We schedule siblings together where we can. Records are digital — the iTero scanner takes a comfortable 3D scan with no putty — and DentalMonitoring lets your child send scans from a phone between visits, so we can confirm progress without another drive in. Details are on our technology page.
Home care is straightforward: brush after every meal, floss daily, avoid hard and sticky foods, and wear elastics as prescribed. Broken brackets and skipped elastics are the two things that stretch treatment out, and both are avoidable.
Why Liberty Lake Families Choose Us
Dr. Johnson earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington in 2002 and a Master of Science in Orthodontics from the University of Michigan in 2005, and has been treating patients since 2006. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, and the Washington State Society of Orthodontists.
Beyond credentials, parents tell us they come back because we explain what needs to be done and why, in order, before anything happens. Read our patient reviews and see why families choose us.
Questions Parents Ask
- Does the first visit cost anything? No. The evaluation and digital records are complimentary, with no obligation.
- What if we are told to wait? That is a good outcome. We will schedule periodic growth checks and start when treatment genuinely helps.
- Can my child play sports in braces? Yes, with a mouthguard. Tell us the sport and we will advise.
- How much does it cost? It depends on the case. See the payment calculator and financial information under patient resources, and we will review your insurance benefit with you.
- What if something breaks? Call or text (509) 277-9773. Most issues are uncomfortable rather than urgent.
What Happens After Braces
Retainers. Every case ends with them, and they are the least glamorous, most important part of treatment — teeth drift throughout life, and children who stop wearing retainers are the adults we treat for relapse fifteen years later. We will set a realistic retention plan and be direct about how long “long-term” means.
For more on the full range of care, see orthodontic treatment and other treatments, or read our patient reviews from Liberty Lake families.
Get Your Free Smile Consult
Book a free evaluation — call or text (509) 277-9773, or contact us to reach our Liberty Lake office.