Early Care. Lifelong Benefits.
Early interventional care for children can make later orthodontic treatment easier, faster, and less expensive. At Orthodontic Specialists of Lake County, our doctors have guided thousands of Lake County kids through early orthodontic treatment, helping families in Grayslake, Antioch, and Gurnee know exactly when to act, and when to simply wait and watch.
For some children, guiding development of the jaw and eruption of permanent teeth can make the later fine-tuning of their bite and smile much easier. Children’s jaw bones are still growing until about age 13 and respond well to early intervention. This is often called Phase 1, or interceptive, orthodontic treatment, care that begins while some baby teeth are still present, well before comprehensive Phase 2 treatment with braces or aligners.
Not every child needs early appliances, and not every child who does will need the same kind of care later. Once your child is ready for comprehensive treatment, OSOLC offers three trusted paths, chosen based on your child’s clinical needs, comfort preferences, and your family’s lifestyle, never on a one-size-fits-all recommendation.
Traditional metal braces remain one of the most effective, affordable, and time-tested ways to correct a child’s bite and alignment, especially for more complex cases that benefit from a fixed appliance a child can’t lose or forget to wear. Made from durable, high-grade stainless steel, braces let our doctors precisely guide each individual tooth into place, and they hold up well to active kids and busy family schedules.
For children whose permanent teeth have erupted and who are ready for full, comprehensive orthodontic treatment, LightForce braces offer a more customized alternative to standard braces. Each bracket is 3D-printed and designed specifically for your child’s teeth using a digital scan, often resulting in a smaller, more comfortable fit and a more precisely planned course of treatment than one-size-fits-all brackets. Our doctors will let you know at your consultation whether your child is a good candidate.
For children and pre-teens who qualify, OrthoFX clear aligners offer a discreet, removable option with built-in compliance indicators that help kids and parents stay on track between checkups. Aligners are custom-made from a digital scan, can be removed for meals and brushing, and pair with our DentalMonitoring® technology for convenient virtual check-ins between office visits. OrthoFX is best suited to children with mild-to-moderate spacing or alignment needs; our doctors will confirm candidacy at your consultation.
Dr. Terry Sellke, Dr. Rhee, and Dr. Ahmed Nagy bring more than 30 years of combined orthodontic-only experience to every child’s treatment plan, and many of our team members have cared for the same Lake County families for 20+ years. We’ve treated more than 20,000 patients across our Grayslake, Antioch, and Gurnee locations, and we hold a 4.9/5 rating across 200+ Google reviews. Our doctors are selective about early treatment; they recommend Phase 1 care only when it will meaningfully improve your child’s outcome, never as an automatic upsell.
Ready to start your smile journey? Contact us today and schedule your consultation!
Our team will reach out to confirm your appointment and answer any questions you may have.
Not every child will need early intervention. Following a comprehensive evaluation, the doctors at OSOLC will identify any early concerns and/or place your child in observation. This observation period allows the doctors of OSOLC to continue to track your child’s jaw growth and permanent teeth to know when they’re ready for braces or aligners.
Common signs include crowding, bite issues, early or late tooth loss, mouth breathing, prolonged thumb-sucking, or difficulty chewing.
Yes. Orthodontic treatment is carefully planned to support healthy growth and development.
Phase 1 (early) treatment guides jaw growth and creates space for incoming permanent teeth, usually between ages 7 and 10. Phase 2 (comprehensive) treatment, typically braces or clear aligners, fine-tunes the bite and alignment once most or all permanent teeth have erupted. Not every child needs both phases.
LightForce is best suited for children whose permanent teeth have erupted and who are ready for comprehensive treatment. Our doctors will confirm whether LightForce or traditional braces is the better fit at your child’s consultation.
OrthoFX can be a great fit for children with mild-to-moderate spacing or bite issues who can reliably wear removable aligners. Built-in compliance indicators help parents and doctors confirm consistent wear between visits.
Cost varies based on the specific appliance and length of treatment. OSOLC offers flexible, tailored payment plans and will walk you through pricing and insurance coverage at your child’s free consultation.
Many dental insurance plans include an orthodontic benefit, though coverage varies by plan. Our team will help verify your benefits and outline financing options before treatment begins.
Yes. Children’s orthodontic evaluations and treatment are available at our Grayslake, Antioch, and Gurnee offices, so families can choose whichever location is most convenient.
Every smile is unique. That’s why we offer flexible, custom treatment options for every age, goal, and lifestyle.
