Family Orthodontics in Merrimack and New Boston, NH

Most parents come to us researching treatment for their child. You book the consultation, start reading about braces and aligners, and somewhere in the middle of all that research a thought sneaks in: wait, did my own teeth shift after all these years, too? Dr. Hernandez and the team at River Orthodontics see children, teens, and adults all in one practice, so your whole family can get their smiles taken care of together.

We serve families across southern New Hampshire at two offices:

• 52 High Street in New Boston
• 27 Loop Rd in Merrimack.

Call us at (603) 424-1199 to get started.

Quick Takeaways

• We're one practice for every age, whether its kids coming in for a first look, teens already in treatment, or parents finally taking their turn with dental care.
• Ask about back-to-back appointments. Siblings, or a parent and child, can often be seen the same afternoon so you make one trip instead of three. Our New Boston and Merrimack offices can help you find a time that works.
• Bring your insurance card to the consultation. Each person's benefits are their own, and we'll walk through what every family member's plan actually covers before anything starts.
• You'll get a real number at your visit, not a vague range from a website. Payment options are reviewed case by case, and we'll walk through what fits your family's budget at the consultation.
• Take your time deciding on whether to move forward with treatment. Nobody here will pressure you to commit at the consultation.

How a Family Consultation Works

1. We get to know your family first

We talk before we look. What's bothering you, what your child has noticed, what you're worried it might cost. No lectures about flossing, no raised eyebrows. This is the right place for anyone who has been putting off a visit because they expected to feel judged.

2. Scans and photos for each person

We use iTero digital impressions, so scanning teeth takes a few minutes and skips the goopy trays. When we need a closer look at roots, jaw position, or teeth still coming in, 3D imaging and digital X-rays fill in that picture.

3. Dr. Hernandez looks at each person separately

A nine-year-old with crowding and a parent whose teeth shifted after their first round of braces are two different situations. Each person gets their own plan, built around how their teeth fit together and how that holds up over time.

4. Options, timelines, and costs in the same conversation

You'll hear what we recommend, what the alternatives are, roughly how long each person would be in treatment, and what it costs. If two family members are starting, we go through that together so you can see what it looks like for everyone.

5. You go home and get to think about it

Start when you're ready. Some families begin that week; others take a month to talk it over. Both are fine for us.

What Families Gain by Keeping It Under One Roof

• You'll drive less. Instead of having to take each member of your family to different practices with different specializations, you can get your care under one roof. Pick whichever of our New Boston or Merrimack offices fits your schedule better.
• One provider who knows your family. When a younger sibling is ready to start, we'll already know the family history. Dr. Hernandez follows each case from the very first exam to the final appointment.
• Easier daily cleaning. Crowded teeth are harder to clean, plain and simple. Straighter teeth make brushing and flossing easier for a busy twelve-year-old and for you.
• Better for your bite, not just your smile. When your bite is off, teeth wear unevenly over time. Getting that right is the part that pays off decades later.
• A great time to start is ages nine to fifteen, when confidence is still being built and a smile can make a real difference.
• One financial conversation. Sorting out payment for two family members is simpler with one office.

Who Family Orthodontics Fits

Children around age seven

An early evaluation isn't the same as early treatment. By seven, enough permanent teeth have come in to spot crowding, crossbites, or jaw growth patterns worth watching. Many kids simply get monitored until the timing is right.

Teens

The most common window for full treatment. Braces or Invisalign Teen both work well; the choice usually comes down to how involved the treatment is and how reliably a teen will keep aligners in for the required hours each day. We'll give you a straight read on that rather than assuming.

Adults

There's no age cutoff for a healthier bite. Plenty of adults had braces years ago and watched their teeth drift back, and plenty never had the chance the first time. Adult orthodontics covers the options, including clear aligners.

When we'd suggest waiting or a different path

If a child's permanent teeth haven't come in enough to start braces or aligners, we'll put you on a growth check instead of rushing into treatment. If gum health or cavities need attention first, we'll ask you to visit your general dentist before we move any teeth. And if a situation calls for care that goes beyond what orthodontics can handle, we'll tell you at the consultation, not three months in.

Timeline and What to Expect

Every case moves at its own pace, but the general shape looks like this:

• Consultation and records: one visit, usually under an hour. Your free consultation covers photos, digital scans, and a review of your options.
• Starting treatment: braces placement or your first set of Invisalign aligners usually happens within a few weeks, once your plan is confirmed.
• Wearing your appliance: commonly one to two and a half years. Straightforward cases finish sooner; more involved ones take longer.
• Check-in visits: roughly every six to eight weeks for adjustments or progress checks. These are quick.
• Retainers: teeth naturally shift over time, so wearing your retainer after treatment protects the results you worked for.

When two family members start around the same time, their timelines rarely match up, and that's perfectly fine. We build the schedule around both, at either our New Boston or Merrimack office.

Getting Ready, and Caring for the Results

Before treatment starts, get a cleaning and any needed dental work taken care of with your regular dentist. Teeth move best in a healthy mouth. It also helps to talk with your child honestly about what's coming, because the first few days feel tight and odd, soft foods help, and that passes.

Once treatment is underway, the daily habits do most of the work:

• Brush after meals and floss around brackets or before your aligners go back in.
• With braces, avoid foods that snap brackets off: hard candy, ice, sticky caramel, whole apples and carrots unless cut up.
• With Invisalign, wearing the trays consistently is what actually moves your teeth. Aligners sitting in a backpack all day won't do much.
• After treatment, wear your retainers exactly as directed. That's the single best way to keep your results long term.

Cost, Insurance, and Paying for More Than One Smile

Your cost depends on the individual case: how much movement is needed, which type of treatment is used, and how long it runs. Complexity and treatment length drive the number, not the patient's age, which is why a teen and a parent in the same house can land on two very different quotes.

Orthodontic insurance benefits are tied to each person individually, not to the household, so a plan that covers your child may or may not cover you. We'll review your plan before treatment begins so you know exactly what applies to whom.

We also offer payment options and can look at how two cases fit together across your budget, including how starting one treatment slightly after another might ease the monthly load. We're happy to walk through what that looks like for your family at your consultation.

Why Merrimack and New Boston Families Choose Us

Dr. Emilio Hernandez took a longer path to orthodontics than most, and patients feel that in how he listens. He earned his doctorate at the University of Kentucky and received the Clinical Achievement Award for Excellence in Restorative Dentistry. He spent four years as a general dentist in Hawaii, then taught full-time in the NYU dental residency program before going back to school himself for a three-year orthodontic specialty program at Nova Southeastern University.

That last step, returning to residency after years in practice, is what he's proudest of. It means he looks at your whole bite and how everything fits together, not just the teeth you can see when you smile. You can read more about Dr. Hernandez on his about page.

The practice is fully digital. That means the scans and imaging described earlier, plus a Picasso laser for gum-related work that some cases need. The technology is there to make your visits shorter and more comfortable. See what that looks like on our technology page.

What families notice most is the atmosphere. We keep things light. Nobody gets a guilt trip about a broken bracket or a missed aligner day. Between the New Boston and Merrimack offices, you have a location close enough that the every-few-weeks rhythm doesn't take over your schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child and I be in treatment at the same time?

Yes, and it's common. Some parents find it helpful, since you're modeling the routine and there's a natural accountability partner for wearing aligners and keeping teeth clean.

Can siblings have appointments on the same day?

Usually, yes. Just let our front desk know you'd like visits back to back and we'll make it work where the calendar allows. One trip, everyone seen.

At what age should my child first be evaluated?

Around age seven. An early visit doesn't mean early braces. Most seven-year-olds leave with a growth check and nothing else. A first visit is really just a look and a conversation.

Do braces and aligners cost the same for a teen and an adult?

Not necessarily. The price depends on how much movement is needed and how long treatment takes, not the patient's age. That's why two people in the same family can get two different quotes.

Can my teenager still play sports and an instrument with braces?

Yes. Sports call for a mouthguard, and we'll help pick the right type. Wind instruments take a couple of weeks to adjust to, and then most players are back to normal.

What if one family member needs braces and another is a better fit for Invisalign?

That's a pretty common setup. We look at each person's teeth individually and recommend what fits their situation best. We offer braces and Invisalign side by side, so your family can follow two different paths with the same team.

Start With a Conversation

Whether it's one child, a teen and a parent, or the whole household, the first step is a visit where we look, listen, and talk through your options. You'll leave knowing what each person needs, how long treatment would take, and what it costs. We'll walk you through every option so you can decide what fits your family's routine best.

Call (603) 424-1199 or request an appointment at whichever office works best for you:

Dr. Hernandez and the team would love to meet your family.