Guides
These guides answer the questions Maple Ridge families ask us most. For the broader library covering every appliance, age and condition, browse the 2026 guide collection at MapleRidgeOrthodontics.com.
Every guide is reviewed by the orthodontists at myORTHODONTIST Maple Ridge and dated at the bottom.
How to choose an orthodontist in Maple Ridge: seven questions worth asking
Ask these of every office, including ours.
Do I need a referral to see an orthodontist in BC?
No. Book directly. Your dentist stays part of the team.
Invisalign at our Maple Ridge clinic: every visit, from first scan to retainers
What happens at each appointment, how long it takes, and what our orthodontists check.
Getting braces in Pitt Meadows or Mission? Why families make the drive
A short drive from Pitt Meadows, a longer one from Mission, and treatment planned around the drive.
What age should my child first see an orthodontist?
By about age 7. Most children need nothing yet, and finding the few who do is the point.
Mouth breathing in children: why it matters more than parents think
A habit with consequences for jaw growth, sleep and the shape of the face.
Signs your child may benefit from Phase 1 orthodontic treatment
What you can see at home, and what it might mean.
Thumb sucking, soothers and jaw development: a parent's guide
Normal in toddlers, worth addressing by 4, and fixable.
Airway orthodontics explained: how jaw growth shapes breathing
The jaws are the walls and floor of the airway. Here is what that means for treatment.
Snoring in kids is not normal: what parents should know
Occasional snoring with a cold is fine. Snoring most nights is a sign.
Crowded teeth in a 7-year-old: wait or treat?
Often it improves on its own. Sometimes it is a narrow jaw that should be treated now.
Invisalign or braces for your teen: how we help parents decide
What we assess in a teen, the wear-time conversation, and a simple test to try at home.
10 myths about getting Invisalign from an orthodontist
Referrals, cost, being pushed into braces: the myths that stop people asking a specialist.
How our orthodontists estimate your Invisalign timeline
What decides the number you are quoted at the evaluation, and how we keep treatment on it.
Overbite, underbite or crossbite: how we decide whether aligners can correct it
Dental or skeletal, growing or not: how the specialist decides which tool your bite needs.
Is it too late for Invisalign? What our orthodontists check first in adults
Age is rarely the barrier. Gum health, existing dental work and your bite are what we look at.
Does insurance cover braces or Invisalign in British Columbia?
MSP: no. Employer plans: often, up to a lifetime maximum. Here is how to read yours.
Monthly payment plans for orthodontics: how they work
An initial payment, then equal monthly instalments, interest free, through the clinic.
Why retainers matter more than braces
Every adult with teeth that 'moved back' stopped wearing one.
TMJ pain and your bite: when jaw clicking is worth a visit
Clicking alone usually needs nothing. Pain, locking and morning ache are worth a look.
Ready to find out what your options are?
Complimentary evaluations for children, teens and adults at myORTHODONTIST Maple Ridge on Dewdney Trunk Road. No referral needed.