Invisalign First® in Wellington, FL
A Better First Step for Growing Smiles
Early orthodontic treatment doesn't always have to mean traditional braces, bulky appliances, or a difficult experience for your child.
At Shullman Orthodontics, Dr. Howard Shullman uses Invisalign First and advanced digital orthodontic technology to treat appropriate growing smiles while making treatment easier to manage for kids — and parents.
Clear. Removable. Designed for growing smiles.
20+ Years of Experience • 15,000+ Smiles Transformed • Advanced Early Orthodontic Treatment
Why Would My Child Need Orthodontic Treatment So Young?
Sometimes, Timing Changes Everything.
Around age 7, children typically have a combination of baby teeth and permanent teeth. This gives an orthodontist an important opportunity to evaluate how the jaws are growing, how permanent teeth are developing, and whether there's enough room for the adult teeth still to come.
Most children evaluated at age 7 do not need treatment right away.
But when a developing orthodontic problem could become more difficult to correct later, early treatment - sometimes called Phase 1 treatment - may allow Dr. Shullman to address certain problems while your child is still growing.
Early treatment may be considered for concerns such as:
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Crowding or inadequate space for developing permanent teeth
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Crossbites
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Narrow dental arches
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Significant overbites or underbites
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Teeth erupting in unfavorable positions
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Certain jaw growth or bite problems
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Habits affecting dental or jaw development
The goal isn't to put every 7-year-old into orthodontic treatment.
It's to identify the children who can genuinely benefit from treatment — at the time when it can make the biggest difference.
What Is Invisalign First?
Invisalign Designed Specifically for Growing Smiles
Invisalign First is clear aligner treatment designed for younger children who may still have a combination of baby teeth and permanent teeth.
Unlike adult treatment simply scaled down for a smaller mouth, Invisalign First was developed to address the unique orthodontic needs of growing patients.
Depending on your child's diagnosis, Invisalign First may be used to help:
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Create room for developing permanent teeth
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Address certain types of crowding
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Guide teeth into healthier positions
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Improve certain bite relationships
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Support early orthodontic treatment while your child's smile develops
And because the aligners are removable, children can take them out to eat, brush, and floss.
Why Parents - and Kids - Love Invisalign First
Early Treatment That Fits Childhood
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Eat Like a Kid
Pizza. Popcorn. Corn on the cob.
Because Invisalign First aligners are removed for meals, there aren't the same food restrictions associated with traditional braces.
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No Brackets or Wires
Clear aligners mean no broken brackets, poking wires, or metal braces across your child's smile.
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Easier Brushing & Flossing
Kids can remove their aligners to brush and floss normally instead of trying to clean around brackets and wires.
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Keep Being a Kid
School. Sports. Birthday parties. Vacations. Photos.
Orthodontic treatment should improve childhood - not take it over.
Invisalign First vs. Traditional Phase 1 Braces
Different Tools. One Goal:
The Right Treatment for Your Child.
INVISALIGN FIRST
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Clear and removable
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No brackets or wires
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Fewer food restrictions
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Easier brushing and flossing
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Requires consistent wear
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Great option for appropriate cases
TRADTIONAL PHASE 1 BRACES
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Fixed in place
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No need to remember aligners
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Effective for appropriate cases
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May be better suited to certain orthodontic needs
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Requires cleaning around brackets
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Some food restrictions
Neither one is automatically better. The right treatment is the one that best fits your child's orthodontic needs.
Dr. Shullman evaluates your child's teeth, bite, jaw development, growth and ability to wear aligners consistently before recommending treatment.
We aren't trying to put every child in Invisalign. We're trying to choose the right treatment for your child.
What If My Child Needs an Expander?
For some growing children, the upper jaw may be too narrow or there may not be enough room for developing teeth.
Traditionally, orthodontists have often used fixed metal palatal expanders to gradually widen the upper arch.
Today, some children may have another option.
Shullman Orthodontics offers Invisalign Palatal Expander for appropriate growing patients.
Using advanced digital technology, a series of custom removable expanders is created specifically for your child's mouth and prescribed by Dr. Shullman to gradually expand the upper arch.
Why Families Are Excited About It
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Removable design
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No traditional expansion screw to turn
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No fixed metal appliance across the roof of the mouth
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Easier access for brushing and oral hygiene
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Digitally planned for your child's smile
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Designed specifically for growing patients
Not every child who needs expansion is a candidate for Invisalign Palatal Expander. Dr. Shullman will evaluate your child's growth, bite, and orthodontic needs to determine the appropriate approach.
Meet the Invisalign® Palatal Expander
Invisalign® Palatal Expander
Traditional Phase 1 Rapid Palatal Expander
From Expansion to Alignment
One Digitally Planned Treatment Journey
For some children, early orthodontic treatment involves more than simply straightening teeth.
A developing smile may need additional room first - followed by tooth movement as permanent teeth continue to erupt.
Today's Invisalign treatment ecosystem gives Dr. Shullman additional tools for planning those stages around your child's individual development.
For an appropriate patient, that may include:
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EVALUATE
Understand your child's bite, growth, developing teeth, and available space.
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CREATE SPACE
Use expansion or another appropriate early treatment approach when needed.
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ALIGN
Use Invisalign First to guide developing teeth toward healthier positions when appropriate.
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MONITOR GROWTH
Continue evaluating your child's smile as permanent teeth erupt and the jaws develop.
Early orthodontics isn't about rushing treatment.
It's about using growth intelligently.
Does My Child Actually Need Invisalign First?
Maybe. And That's the Point of the Consultation.
Seeing crowding or a crooked tooth doesn't automatically mean your 7- or 8-year-old needs orthodontic treatment.
And an orthodontic evaluation doesn't mean you're signing your child up for braces or Invisalign.
Some children benefit from early treatment.
Some need a different type of treatment.
And many simply need to be monitored as they grow.
That's why the first decision shouldn't be:
"Should my child get Invisalign?"
It should be:
"Does my child need orthodontic treatment right now?"
Dr. Shullman will evaluate your child's teeth, bite, jaw development, and growth and explain what he sees — including when the best recommendation is simply to wait.
Built for Growing Smiles - And Busy Families
Early orthodontic treatment shouldn't mean constantly pulling your child out of school or rearranging your family's entire schedule.
Shullman Orthodontics combines advanced digital orthodontics with convenient appointment options designed around busy Wellington families.
Our goal is to make treatment as effective and manageable as possible — for your child and for you.
Because your child's orthodontic treatment is important.
So is everything else in their life.
Invisalign First Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Invisalign First for?
Invisalign First is designed for growing children who may still have a combination of baby teeth and permanent teeth. Age alone doesn't determine whether a child needs treatment. Dr. Shullman evaluates dental development, bite, jaw growth, and the individual orthodontic problem before recommending treatment.
Can a 7-year-old get Invisalign?
Some children around age 7 may be candidates for Invisalign First, while many children this age don't need orthodontic treatment yet. An early orthodontic evaluation helps determine whether treatment would be beneficial now or whether your child's development should simply be monitored.
Does Invisalign First replace an expander?
Not necessarily. Invisalign First and palatal expansion can address different orthodontic needs. Some growing children who require expansion may be candidates for Invisalign Palatal Expander, while others may require another approach.
Will my child actually wear the aligners?
That's an important part of determining whether Invisalign First is appropriate. Clear aligner treatment requires consistent wear. Dr. Shullman considers your child's maturity, needs, and ability to participate in treatment before recommending Invisalign First.
Can my child eat normally with Invisalign First?
Because the aligners are removed for meals, children generally don't have the same food restrictions associated with braces. Good brushing, aligner care, and following Dr. Shullman's instructions remain important throughout treatment.
Is Invisalign First better than braces?
Neither is universally better. Invisalign First offers meaningful lifestyle advantages for appropriate patients, while braces or other orthodontic appliances may be more appropriate for certain problems. The diagnosis should determine the treatment — not the other way around.
Have more questions about Invisalign?
Why Choose Shullman Orthodontics for Invisalign?
Choosing Invisalign isn't just choosing clear aligners.
You're choosing the orthodontist responsible for your result.
At Shullman Orthodontics, you'll get:
20+ years of orthodontic experience
Experience treating children, teens, and adults with a wide range of orthodontic needs.
15,000+ smiles transformed
Thousands of families have trusted Shullman Orthodontics with their smiles.
Advanced Invisalign treatment
From adult and teen treatment to Invisalign First and Invisalign Palatal Expander for appropriate growing patients.
Digital orthodontic technology
Including iTero scanning and DentalMonitoring technology.
Treatment built around busy lives
Convenient appointment options and technology designed to minimize unnecessary disruptions to work, school, and family schedules.
A Wellington orthodontist who's here when you need us
Your treatment is planned, supervised, and supported by a local orthodontic team throughout your smile journey.
More Than 15,000 Smiles - And Counting
Experience Matters Even More When They're Groing.
Dr. Howard Shullman has spent more than 20 years treating children, teens, and adults and helping Wellington-area families make confident decisions about orthodontic care.
At Shullman Orthodontics, we combine that experience with advanced treatment options including Invisalign First, Invisalign Palatal Expander, Invisalign, LightForce custom braces, digital scanning, and remote monitoring technology.
But having advanced technology isn't the most important part.
Knowing when - and when not - to use it is.
Their Smile Is Growing.
Let's make sure it's growing in the right direction.
Your child may benefit from early orthodontic treatment.
They may be a candidate for Invisalign First.
They may need expansion.
Or the best recommendation may simply be:
"Let's keep watching."
You don't need to figure that out yourself.
Meet with Dr. Howard Shullman for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation and find out what - if anything - your child's growing smile needs right now.