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If you have school age children, determining the age of the first orthodontic visit may be confusing. You may see some first graders in braces and you may be wondering: "Why in the world are they wearing braces already? As a parent, am I missing something?"

It is very common for parents to ask me:

What is the best age to bring my child for their first orthodontic screening?

In my opinion, I believe the best time for a first visit is around their 8th birthday. At this age, children have a mix of both adult and baby teeth, and we can start to foresee how their teeth and jaws will line up in the future. Specifically, I am looking for:
- Cross bites (top jaw is too small)
- Excessive crowding or spacing of the teeth
- Overbites and underbites (mismatch of upper and lower jaw size)
- Missing teeth, late erupting teeth, extra teeth, abnormally shaped teeth
- Environmental factors (thumb sucking habits, mouth breathing, etc.)

While there are many things I am looking for at this age, it does not necessarily mean that I will treat them at this age. In fact, for most kids under the age of 11, I recommend waiting.  While every orthodontist is different, I prefer a conservative approach and I firmly believe "less is more" when it comes to orthodontic treatment.

Why do I take this approach? For many bites, we have studies that show we can get the same result if we treat in one stage instead of two. This not only saves time and money in orthodontic treatment, but it gives your kid the chance to be a kid without having braces from age 8 until 13. Additionally, we have to consider these are their adult teeth - they need to have them forever! Hygiene is very important, and I want to give every kid the chance to keep their teeth clean and cavity-free if possible.

Does this mean I wait in all cases? Not at all! It is true - some cases I do recommend a 2 step approach with early orthodontic intervention at age 8-10 years old. Often times, this is for bone growth issues that are best addressed at that age, or for teeth alignment issues that if left untreated will make for a more difficult treatment in the future. If this is the case, I try to do an early treatment for as little time as possible to help correct the problem. Then we can wait and approach the rest as a pre-teen or teenager. I sincerely look at every child as if they were my own, and if there is a situation that I would treat my son or daughter, then I let you know.

I take pride in our conservative approach to early treatment. Best of all, we do not charge anything for an initial screening - our first appointment is entirely free, and you do not need a referral from your dentist to check us out. Feel free to reach out anytime with questions - I am here to help : )

-Dr. Zach

Hi Downers Grove area parents! I know that many of you are aware of Invisalign®, the virtually invisible way to straighten teeth without metal braces, but I’m often asked for more information about Invisalign® Teen, specifically. Parents are curious about how (and if!) these clear aligners can really work for their teens.

Here’s the short answer (TL;DR as the kids are saying) - rather than wires and brackets, Invisalign® Teen uses a series of clear, removable aligners that have been custom-made for your teen’s teeth, a result of precise images I take with the sophisticated iTero Element Scanner. Your teen simply wears these aligners over their teeth and changes them out for a new set of aligners periodically—most often every week. Little by little, your teen’s teeth gradually shift into place.

For those of you who want more information, here are the answers to the top five questions I’m asked about Invisalign Teen. I hope you find it helpful!

1. INVISALIGN TEEN CAN BE AS EFFECTIVE AS TRADITIONAL BRACES.

When worn according to the customized plan I set in place as your child’s orthodontist, Invisalign Teen can be as effective as traditional braces. In fact, the chances are very high your teen will be a candidate for Invisalign as it can treat many of the common issues we see. Call us at (630) 541-3696 to set up an appointment to find out for sure. And, don’t worry, we’ll never pressure you into a decision - traditional braces are often a great choice as well! 

2. THERE ARE PRACTICAL ADVANTAGES OF INVISALIGN TEEN OVER TRADITIONAL BRACES.

With Invisalign, the aligners are removable, so your teen can play sports, musical instruments and eat their favorite foods without the worry that braces will get in the way. Plus, it’s much easier to brush and floss normally in order to maintain proper oral hygiene. If getting into the hard to reach places is already a struggle for your teen, Invisalign aligners may be a good choice over traditional braces. 

3. INVISALIGN TEEN COSTS ABOUT THE SAME AS BRACES.

In our office, our goal is to make treatment affordable no matter which option you choose. That’s why we are flexible with down payments and offer low monthly payments, regardless which path you choose for straightening your teen’s smile. Because of this, we find that the slight variation in cost of treatment is not a deciding factor for most patients. 

4. YOUR TEEN HAS TO WEAR THE ALIGNERS MOST OF THE DAY.

How many hours does that really mean, you ask? Invisalign Teen is most effective when worn 20 to 22 hours per day and changed approximately every week. Simply put, unless they’re eating or brushing their teeth, your teen should be wearing their aligners. 

5. YOU’LL SPEND LESS TIME AT MY OFFICE THAN WITH TRADITIONAL BRACES.

Invisalign Teen often requires less time with your orthodontist than traditional braces do. After the initial appointment, follow-up appointments are usually less frequent and scheduled every eight to twelve weeks. There are minor adjustments to make, but no changing and bending of wires. 

If you’re interested in learning more about Invisalign Teen, or curious if your teen is a candidate, reach out! At my practice, all consultations are free and we always present your options so that you can make an informed decision about treatment for your child. 

Just click below to schedule that complimentary consultation. I can’t wait to meet you and your teen! 

- Dr. Zach

Hey parents - we get it. Finding room in the family budget for straight teeth is a challenge amongst everything else going on. Sports uniforms, violin lessons, iPhones, vacations - kids sure are expensive. And I totally understand - I have kids of my own, and there always seems to be something coming up.

As we all plan for 2023, I want to help by giving you some honest and actionable advice to help you save on your orthodontic treatment. It may take a little research, but it will be well worth it in the end!

1. EMPLOYER INSURANCE PLANS COVER TWEENS AND TEENS:

If you are looking at plans for 2023 and your employer offers an option with an orthodontic benefit, the best time to plan is now. Schedule a consultation with an orthodontist to see if your child will need braces in 2023. If they do, then you can do the math to see if the extra premium is worth it. If they don't, see if you can get a timeline of when he or she will be ready. This way you only pay the additional premium if you're going to use it. At ZFO we offer complimentary consultations, so there’s no risk of losing cash for the sake of planning ahead - plus, no referrals necessary. : )

2. GO TO AN OFFICE THAT WORKS DIRECTLY WITH YOUR INSURANCE TO SAVE YOU TIME & MONEY:

Many people do not realize it, but not all offices give treat insurance the same. While some offices may work directly with your insurance company to secure your benefit, others will leave you with the responsibility of dealing with the insurance company to collect your benefit. If you go to an office who is not handling your insurance, you will pay more up front for your treatment and be left with the responsibility of doing your own insurance homework. Our office prides ourselves on going above and beyond for your family: we will file the insurance claim, follow up with the insurance, and do all the legwork to ensure your claim is paid to off-set your out-of-pocket cost. Additionally, at ZFO we are in-network with many PPO plans, so you can ensure you are getting the maximum benefit possible for your orthodontic treatment. Call us to see if your plan is one of them. 

3. FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS AND HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS:

FSAs are a great way to take advantage of your employer benefits to help reduce some out-of-pocket costs on teen orthodontic treatment. Visit your orthodontist before you set your FSA limits for 2023 to find out how you can plan your payments. Our financial coordinators are a great resource! HSAs are also a great way to use pre-tax dollars to your benefit to pay for teen orthodontic treatment.

4. PAYMENT PLANS:

Most orthodontists will offer in-house financing with 0% interest on the monthly payments. This can be a huge advantage for a family trying to budget out the cost of braces or Invisalign® for multiple kids, so be sure to talk with the office to see how the payments can be arranged. You may be surprised to find out that offices like ours are willing to finance beyond the treatment time or accept a small down payment as low as a couple hundred dollars. All you have to do is ask : )

5. SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY TEEN ORTHODONTIC CONSULTATION NOW:

Timing is everything and you won’t know if your tween or teen is ready for orthodontic treatment unless you get them checked out by a specialized practitioner. Orthodontists receive 2 additional years of specialized schooling above and beyond their dental certification, making them the right person to determine timing for orthodontic care. While some kids are good candidates for early orthodontic treatment around age 8, many more begin treatment closer to age 11 or 12. If your child is approaching this age range, schedule a complimentary consultation with us and we can help you plan your timing! You may not need to look into any of the above until late 2023 as you plan for 2024 - but at least you’ll know. 

At Zach Frazier Orthodontics, we take pride in our ability to make treatment affordable while maintaining the highest standards of care and customer service. How do we do it? Well, frankly, we are different than most offices in that we do the following:

• 100% transparency & no pressure – we are not here to sell you anything!
• Complimentary consultations, with no referral needed
• Time and cost efficiency – shorter treatment times equals less cost
• Latest technology and materials for the best results
• Custom payment options to optimize your FSAs and HSAs
• Low down payments on treatment
• Thorough plans and clear communication from start to finish

As a member of the COMMUNITY, I would not be able to do my job any other way. My patients are your friends, your family, and your neighbors; and we are proud of our reputation. Feel free to send us a text or email - we are here to help you : )

#LOVEYOURSMILE

- Dr. Zach

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it's that I love Downers Grove. I love the small town feel and I love the way people come back to raise their own families here. Having grown up attending the District 58 & 99 schools, playing for Downers Grove North soccer at Carsten’s Field, eating ice cream at Every Day’s a Sundae, and watching movies at the Tivoli, I love that I get to experience those memories through different eyes with my own kids. 

That’s one of the reasons why giving back to the community of Downers Grove is so important to me. In the past 7 years Zach Frazier Orthodontics has made over $50K in contributions to over 40 local groups, schools and organizations in and surrounding Downers Grove. These include schools; all types of youth sports and clubs; and community organizations like Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club, Sharing Connections, and The Grove Foundation.

These groups, schools and organizations make Downers Grove a great place to live and be a part of; contributing to their success makes me feel good, knowing that I’m contributing to the success and joy of so many of my patients and their families as well. 

I pride myself in being an excellent orthodontist who cares about each of his patients and provides excellence in service, but I also know that creating smiles isn’t all about orthodontics. It’s also about giving back and building strong relationships through social opportunities - in and out of the office. I’m proud of the work I do creating beautiful smiles through braces and Invisalign; and by contributing to my patients overall experience growing up or living in Downers Grove. 

-Dr. Zach

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At Zach Frazier Orthodontics, we are proud to have a community focused orthodontic practice that provides exceptional care to each of our patients. With one doctor and one location, we provide one on one experiences that will leave you smiling. 

Get to know Dr. Zach Frazier

Dr. Zach is a board-certified specialist in orthodontics dedicated to providing high-quality care. His training has gone above and beyond traditional orthodontics. Previously, he was part of the craniofacial team at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC.

Due to this additional experience, he can offer exceptional care to all patients, including those with special needs. He believes that treatment should be both an enjoyable and rewarding experience, and he would be privileged to care for you and your family.

Schedule an appointment with us today!

At our practice we strive to provide the highest quality orthodontic treatment but also ensure incredible customer service and make you feel like you’re at home while you’re visiting us. Visit us online for a complimentary virtual consultation or click below to schedule an in-person consultation. 

CLICK BELOW OR CALL US TODAY FOR A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION.