Your dentist said something about crowding at the last cleaning. Or your second grader still sucks a thumb at bedtime, and you’re starting to wonder if it matters.
You don’t want braces on a 7-year-old who doesn’t need them. You also don’t want to hear at 13 that something could have been guided at 8.
A first visit with a kids orthodontist settles it. At Sturgill Orthodontics on Blountville Highway in Bristol, the office many families still know as Mullins Orthodontics, Dr. L. Sean Mullins and our orthodontists look at your child’s teeth and jaw and tell you plainly: treat now, wait, or just come back for checkups.
The visit is free and you don’t need a referral. Most families get in the same week they call.
Or call or text our Bristol office at (423) 764-4174
- Board-certified orthodontists
- Free first visit, no referral
- Payments from $99/mo
- Rated 5.0 on Google
When Should My Child First See an Orthodontist?
By age 7. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic checkup by age 7, and it’s what we recommend for Bristol families on both sides of State Street.
At 7, most kids have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth. That’s when a narrow upper jaw, a crossbite or crowding starts to show, often before anyone notices it at home.
A visit at 7 doesn’t mean braces at 7. Most kids that age don’t need treatment yet. We watch how the teeth and jaw grow, and you come back for quick checkups.
Does My Child Need to See an Orthodontist?
Answer eight quick questions about what you’ve noticed at home. Only an exam can tell you what your child needs, but this can help you decide whether to book a visit.
The one-minute parent check
Tap Yes, No or Not sure for each one.
The quickest way to know is a free first visit at our Bristol office.
Is your child 7 or older and hasn’t had an orthodontic checkup yet?
Did baby teeth come out very early or very late, or is an adult tooth coming in crooked or behind a baby tooth?
Do your child’s teeth look crowded, twisted or overlapping?
Do the front teeth stick out, or do the bottom teeth sit in front of the top teeth?
Is your child still sucking a thumb or finger at age 5 or older?
Does your child breathe through the mouth, snore, or grind their teeth?
Does your child have trouble chewing, or bite their cheek or the roof of their mouth?
Has your child’s dentist mentioned crowding, a crossbite or a bite problem?
What We Look For at Each Age
2–4
Thumb sucking and pacifiers are normal, and most kids stop on their own.
5 and up
A thumb or finger habit that’s still going is worth a visit.
7
First orthodontic checkup. Most kids are only monitored.
7–10
Phase 1 treatment usually starts here, for the kids who need it.
7–12
Best window for a palate expander, while the upper jaw is still growing.
9–14
Braces most often start.
15 and up
The seam in the upper jaw starts to fuse, so widening it gets harder.
What Happens at Your Child’s First Visit in Bristol
The free consultation takes about an hour. Here’s how it goes:
- Photos, X-rays and a scan. We take pictures, digital X-rays and a goop-free scan of your child’s teeth, all at no cost.
- Time with the orthodontist. You sit down with a doctor to talk through what we found, and you can ask anything you want.
- A clear answer. You’ll hear whether your child needs treatment now, should wait, or just needs checkups. If treatment makes sense, you’ll get the options, a timeline and the cost.
Bring your insurance card and the questions you’ve been saving up. You can fill out forms ahead of time on our first visit page.
There’s no obligation to start anything.
Early Orthodontic Treatment (Phase 1) in Bristol
Phase 1 is early orthodontic treatment for kids who still have some baby teeth. It usually starts between ages 7 and 10. You may also hear it called interceptive treatment, since it’s the first half of two-phase treatment.
We only recommend Phase 1 when early treatment is truly needed. When it is, it gives your orthodontist a chance to:
- Guide jaw growth and make room for crowded adult teeth
- Lower the risk of injury to front teeth that stick out
- Widen a narrow upper jaw or fix a crossbite
- Start correcting an underbite in Bristol while the jaw is still growing
- Help with an overbite (see how braces fix overbites)
- Break habits like thumb sucking that push teeth out of place
How long it takes depends on what we’re correcting. A crossbite, for example, usually takes 6 to 12 months with an expander or partial braces.
After Phase 1 comes a monitoring period. We check your child’s teeth while the rest of the adult teeth come in.
Most kids who have Phase 1 still need a second phase once most of their baby teeth are gone. Phase 1 often makes that second phase shorter and more predictable.
Treatment for Kids at Our Bristol Office
Palate Expanders
A palate expander widens a narrow upper jaw while it’s still growing. Your child’s upper jaw is two bones that meet at a seam down the middle, and ages 7 to 12 are the best window because that seam is still flexible.
The expander sits on the roof of the mouth. You turn it with a small key, usually once a day, and each turn is about the thickness of a hair.
Turning lasts 2 to 4 weeks. The expander then stays in for about 6 months while new bone fills in, so most kids are done in 6 to 8 months.
A small gap between the front teeth during expansion is normal. Here’s more on how palatal expanders work.
Habit Appliances
Most kids stop sucking a thumb or pacifier on their own by ages 2 to 4. When the habit keeps going at 5 or older, it can push the front teeth forward and change how the jaw grows.
A habit appliance is a small crib bonded to the back molars that takes the fun out of the habit. Placing it takes 30 to 45 minutes, and the habit usually stops within 2 to 4 weeks.
Most kids wear one for 6 to 12 months. If your child also needs an expander, the crib can be built into it. Read more about habit appliances.
Braces for Kids in Bristol
Metal braces are the most common choice for younger kids, and they pick new elastic colors at checkups. Our Bristol office also offers gold braces, so ask about them at the visit.
Braces for kids usually take 18 to 24 months, with checkups every 6 to 8 weeks. Getting braces on takes no needles or shots, and most kids feel only some soreness for the first few days.
We usually save clear braces for older teens and adults. Our page on braces in Bristol covers every type and what each costs.
Invisalign for Older Kids and Teens
Older kids and teens who’d rather skip brackets may be a fit for Invisalign for Teens. At the free visit, we’ll tell you honestly whether braces or aligners fit your child’s bite. See Invisalign in Bristol for details.
Mouth Breathing and Snoring
A child who breathes through the mouth or snores may have a narrow upper jaw. Widening it while your child is growing can also widen the nasal space just above it.
Learn how airway orthodontics in Bristol looks at breathing, jaw growth and the bite together.
Pediatric Dentist or Kids Orthodontist?
You’ll likely see both, for different jobs. Your child’s pediatric dentist handles cleanings, cavities and overall tooth health.
An orthodontist is a dentist with years of extra specialty training in straightening teeth and guiding jaw growth. That’s who checks the bite at age 7 and treats it if needed. Here’s more on the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist.
Your child keeps seeing their dentist for cleanings during treatment. You don’t need your dentist’s referral to book with us.
How Much Does Orthodontic Treatment for Kids Cost in Bristol?
Metal and clear braces at our offices usually cost $3,000 to $7,000. Where your child lands depends on how much the teeth need to move and how long treatment takes.
Phase 1, expanders and habit appliances depend on what your child needs, so you’ll get the exact number at the free visit, before you decide anything.
Ways Bristol families make it work:
- 0% interest in-house payment plans, with most families paying $99 to $250 a month
- Low and no down payment options
- Insurance with orthodontic coverage, which typically pays $1,500 to $3,000
- Family discounts when more than one family member is in treatment
- HSA and FSA dollars, CareCredit and all major credit cards
- TennCare, which may cover braces for children under 21 when treatment is medically necessary
We’re a preferred provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and Delta Dental, and we accept Aetna, Cigna, Guardian, Humana, MetLife, Tricare, UnitedHealthcare, United Concordia and many more. See every plan on our financing and insurance page.
One Bristol Office for Both Sides of State Street
Our Bristol office is at 350 Blountville Hwy, Suite 206, on the Tennessee side. Families from Bristol, Virginia make the short drive over for early checkups and braces.
Many local families still know this office as Mullins Orthodontics. Dr. L. Sean Mullins has cared for Bristol smiles since 1995, and he’s still part of our team.
Dr. Jeremiah Sturgill went to King University here in Bristol before dental school. He, Dr. Allison Williams and Dr. Anne Miller Harper are board-certified orthodontists, a credential only about 40% of practicing orthodontists hold.
Appointments fit around the school day. We open at 7:30 on Thursdays, which helps families squeeze in a checkup before the bell at Virginia Primary and Intermediate, Virginia Middle or Tennessee High.
Families come to us from both sides of Bristol, from Blountville and Bluff City in Sullivan County, and from Abingdon up I-81 in Virginia.
We’re rated 5.0 by patients on Google. As Karcey D. put it, “This was an awesome experience for my daughter. The staff was kind and made our daughter feel loved and comfortable.”
What Changes After That First Visit
Right now you’re probably checking your child’s teeth in the bathroom mirror and wondering if that crooked one will sort itself out.
After one visit, you’ll know. You’ll walk out with a plan and a price, or with good news that it’s fine to wait.
If your child does need help, catching it while they’re still growing can make later treatment shorter and simpler. And your kid gets to grow into a smile they don’t hide in school pictures.
Kids Orthodontist FAQs for Bristol Parents
Is 7 too young to see an orthodontist?
No. Age 7 is when the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first visit. Most kids that age don’t start treatment. We’re checking how the jaw is growing and how the adult teeth are coming in.
Is it too late if my child is older than 7?
No. The age 7 visit catches problems while the jaw is still growing, but kids, teens and adults can all be treated. Braces most often start between 9 and 14.
Do all the baby teeth need to fall out before treatment?
No. Phase 1 treatment happens between about ages 7 and 10, while some baby teeth are still in. Full braces usually wait until most of the adult teeth are in.
Are you a pediatric orthodontist?
Orthodontics is one specialty, and orthodontists train to treat growing children as well as adults. At our Bristol office, we see kids from their first checkup through braces and retainers.
What if my child is nervous about the first visit?
The first visit is just photos, X-rays and a scan with no goop, with no shots or needles. We explain each step in words kids understand, so they know what’s coming.
Do I need a referral to see a kids orthodontist in Bristol?
No. You can book a free visit with our Bristol office yourself.
Will my child need braces twice?
Sometimes. Kids who have Phase 1 often need a second phase once most of their baby teeth are gone, but Phase 1 can make that second phase shorter and more predictable.
Does a palate expander hurt?
Most kids feel a little pressure for a minute or two after each turn. Once the turning is done, your child can eat, talk and play normally, though taffy and other sticky candy are best avoided.
When should we deal with thumb sucking?
Most kids stop by ages 2 to 4. If your child is 5 or older and still sucking a thumb or finger, book a visit, because the habit can start to change how the front teeth and jaw grow.
Does insurance cover orthodontics for kids?
Many plans do. Plans with orthodontic coverage typically pay $1,500 to $3,000, and TennCare may cover braces for children under 21 when treatment is medically necessary. Our team will check your benefits for you.
Does Virginia Medicaid cover braces for kids?
Virginia Medicaid and FAMIS can cover braces for children under 21 when the bite problem is severe enough to be medically necessary and the plan approves treatment first. Plans and providers vary, so call or text our Bristol office before the visit to ask about your child’s coverage.
Is this the old Mullins Orthodontics office?
Yes. Mullins Orthodontics is now Sturgill Orthodontics, in the same office on Blountville Highway, and Dr. Mullins is still part of our Bristol team.
How often are appointments?
Most kids in braces come in every 6 to 8 weeks. Thursday mornings start at 7:30, so your child misses as little class as possible.
Can my child play sports with braces?
Yes. Your child just needs an orthodontic mouthguard, since the store-bought kind doesn’t fit over braces.
Book Your Child’s Free Visit in Bristol
You’ll leave knowing whether your child needs treatment, what it would involve and what it costs. There’s no referral, no charge for the visit and no pressure to start.
Sturgill Orthodontics
350 Blountville Hwy, Suite 206, Bristol, TN 37620
Call or text: (423) 764-4174
Monday to Wednesday 8:00 to 5:00, Thursday 7:30 to 4:30, closed Friday
Book your free consultation online or get directions on our Bristol orthodontist office page.
One visit, and you’ll know
Bring your child to our Blountville Highway office for a free first look. You’ll leave knowing whether to treat now, wait, or just come back for checkups.
Prefer to talk first? Call or text our Bristol office at (423) 764-4174