Ortho Resources

When Should My Child First See an Orthodontist?

Early prevention starts at age seven, which is when the American Association of Orthodontists recommends parents bring their children to an orthodontist. At this age, permanent teeth have begun to create a bite pattern and can be examined for irregularities. Starting orthodontic treatment early may be more beneficial to the patient. An example of this is for treatment of narrow arches. With palate expanders, the arch can be widened so that the top and bottom teeth fit together more properly and other issues can be addressed in the second phase of treatment.

what are the treatment options?

Phase one treatment, early treatment between the ages of seven and nine, can also take advantage of bones that are still growing and better address problems before they develop fully.

Two-Phase treatment may include the use of expanders and other appliances, metal braces or even Invisalign! Invisalign now has its first ever product for kids, Invisalign First. With Invisalign First, you won’t have to worry about your kids breaking their metal brackets and wires. And there’s even an indicator on the aligners to let you know that your child is wearing their aligners correctly (or not!). Kids AND parents are loving this new option!

You might consider taking your child to an orthodontist for early prevention if:

• They have trouble breaking a thumb-sucking habit.
• A speech impediment exists.
• Your child’s jaw comes together in an abnormal way when they bite.
• Your child’s teeth do not come together, or do so in an irregular manner.
• There is an issue with breathing.
• Teeth protrude from the upper or lower jaw.
• Your child has problems with chewing and biting.
• Your child loses their baby teeth too early or too late (they should start losing teeth at age 5 and have their adult teeth by 13).

two-phase treatment

Two-phase orthodontic treatment is used to address issues of facial bone structure as well as teeth alignment. By dividing the treatment into two different parts, it allows the orthodontist to correctly fix all problems that contribute to overall functionality of the mouth and teeth.

Phase one

Two-phase orthodontic treatment is used to address issues of facial bone structure as well as teeth alignment. By dividing the treatment into two different parts, it allows the orthodontist to correctly fix all problems that contribute to overall functionality of the mouth and teeth.

resting period

Two-phase orthodontic treatment is used to address issues of facial bone structure as well as teeth alignment. By dividing the treatment into two different parts, it allows the orthodontist to correctly fix all problems that contribute to overall functionality of the mouth and teeth.

Phase two

The second phase of Two-Phase Treatment is used to tweak and correct any problems that may have not been addressed or fixed by the first phase of orthodontic therapy. It usually occurs after all permanent teeth have developed and acquired a place within the mouth. Braces are usually administered during this time to give each tooth a proper location and ensure they function in an optimal manner.

Braces can be worn for varying amounts of time, but are usually kept on for 24 months. Once they are removed, a retainer is molded and worn to keep each tooth where it’s supposed to be!

Early Treatment

We believe that it’s never too early to start thinking about your child’s smile. Early orthodontic treatment, often called interceptive treatment, is designed to identify and address potential issues with your child’s teeth and jaw development before they become more serious. By starting treatment at the right time, we can help guide the growth of your child’s jaw, create space for incoming permanent teeth, and set them on the path to a healthier, more confident smile.

Treatment with braces

Braces are one of the most effective tools in early orthodontic treatment. We offer traditional metal braces and clear braces to help guide the growth of your child’s teeth and jaws. Early treatment with braces may involve using them in combination with other appliances, such as expanders, to widen the jaw and create more space for permanent teeth to erupt.

• Braces can help ensure that your child’s teeth and jaws develop in the correct alignment, preventing bite problems and misalignment issues later on.
• For children with crowded teeth, braces can help make room for adult teeth to come in correctly, reducing the risk of future extractions or longer treatment times.
• Early treatment with braces can prevent more complex orthodontic issues from developing, saving time and effort during the teen years.

Braces are a tried-and-true solution for early orthodontic treatment, and at ICON Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we make sure that your child’s experience is as comfortable and efficient as possible.

Treatment with Invisalign

Invisalign isn’t just for teens and adults—our Invisalign® First aligners are designed specifically for children who need early orthodontic care. These clear, removable aligners are custom-made to fit your child’s teeth and guide their development. Invisalign First is an excellent option for children who need orthodontic treatment but prefer a more discreet option than braces.

• Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible, so your child can feel confident while undergoing treatment.
• Unlike braces, Invisalign aligners can be removed for eating, brushing, and special occasions, making them a flexible option for active kids.
• Each set of aligners is custom-made for your child’s teeth, allowing for a precise and effective treatment plan that evolves with their development.

Invisalign is a great option for children with mild to moderate orthodontic issues, including crowding, spacing, and bite problems. It offers the same effective results as traditional braces but with the added benefit of being removable and discreet.

Teen Orthodontics

The teenage years are a critical period for orthodontic treatment. With most of the permanent teeth in place and the jaw still developing, this is the optimal time to correct misalignments and bite issues. We understand that teens have unique needs when it comes to their smile, and we are here to support them through the journey to a healthier, more confident future.

Why the Teen Years are Ideal for Treatment

During the teen years, the bones in the jaw are still malleable, making it easier to guide the teeth and jaws into proper alignment. This flexibility allows orthodontic treatment to be more efficient and effective than at later stages in life. Early intervention during these formative years can help prevent more severe dental issues from developing, potentially avoiding more extensive procedures in adulthood.

For teens, orthodontic treatment is not only about achieving straight teeth but also about improving overall oral health. Proper alignment helps reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and even speech or chewing difficulties, setting the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Building Confidence During Formative Years

A straight, healthy smile can have a profound impact on a teen’s self-esteem. Many teenagers are self-conscious about their appearance, and orthodontic treatment can help boost their confidence by giving them a smile they can be proud of. We work to create an experience that empowers teens, helping them feel comfortable and supported every step of the way.

Adult Orthodontics

We understand that orthodontic treatment isn’t just for kids and teens — adults can benefit greatly from orthodontics too. Whether you’ve been living with misaligned teeth for years or are just beginning to notice changes in your smile, it’s never too late to seek treatment. More and more adults are choosing orthodontics to enhance their oral health, improve their bite, and achieve the confident, beautiful smile they’ve always wanted.

why orthodontics for adults?

Many adults pursue orthodontic treatment not just for cosmetic reasons, but to address underlying health issues. Misaligned teeth can lead to problems such as tooth wear, gum disease, difficulty cleaning teeth properly, and even jaw pain or discomfort. Orthodontic treatment can help correct these issues, improving overall oral health and reducing the risk of future complications.

Additionally, orthodontic care can prevent other dental concerns from escalating. Even minor misalignments can affect your bite, leading to chewing problems or even speech difficulties. Addressing these concerns can lead to a healthier, more functional smile, improving both aesthetics and oral health.

the confidence to live your life

For many adults, a straighter smile translates into greater confidence in both personal and professional settings. Orthodontic treatment can improve self-esteem, making you feel more comfortable when interacting with others. We work with each adult patient to develop a treatment plan that fits their lifestyle, helping them achieve their smile goals in a way that is convenient, comfortable, and discreet.

GLO Teeth Whitening

A beautiful, healthy, white smile has the power to change your life and make you light up — inside and out!

We are proud to be a certified GLO Science dental practice, offering our patients the very best teeth whitening experience and results available anywhere — with faster appointments, superior results, and little to no sensitivity.

We offer a variety of GLO teeth whitening options that fit your lifestyle and whitening needs, available exclusively through certified GLO dental practices like ours. Let us customize the best whitening treatment for you!

GLO In-office whitening

Get dramatically whiter teeth in under an hour in style and comfort — and without pain! The GLO whitening mouthpiece uses a patented combination of warming heat and light technology to speed up the whitening process for safe, clinically proven, professional whitening results with no zingers from sensitivity.

GLO Professional Take-Home Whitening Kit

Whiten with professional GLO technology and professional-strength whitening gel in the comfort of your own home. Use on its own or to maintain your whiter smile between in-office treatments. Available exclusively through GLO dental practices like ours. Ask us how to get yours!

GLO Vials — Pro Strength

Just brush on and GLO! The easiest way to whiten on the go. No messy strips, no inconvenient trays, no sensitivity. For use on their own or as refills for the GLO device. Whiten anywhere and any time. Available exclusively through GLO dental practices like ours. Ask us how to get yours!

Retainer Care

A perfect smile is a lifelong commitment. Retainers play a crucial role in maintaining your newly straightened teeth. After the hard work of braces or aligners, it’s essential that your teeth remain in their corrected position. This is because the surrounding structures of your teeth — including gums, fibers, and bone — require time to reform and solidify, which can take anywhere between six and 12 months. Everyday activities like chewing, grinding, and clenching cause your teeth to shift over time, potentially leading to misalignment. That’s where the retainer comes in — it ensures that your teeth stay aligned and safeguards the investment you’ve made in your smile. Remember, you’ve worked hard to get to this stage! And just as your body undergoes changes throughout your life, so do your teeth.

This page provides a comprehensive guide on how to care for your retainers, ensuring your teeth stay straight and your smile remains beautiful.

inserting & removing your retainer

To insert your retainer, gently push it over your front teeth first, then apply pressure using your fingertips to the tops of your molars until the retainer snaps into place. Avoid biting down on the retainer as this can cause damage.

To remove your retainer, use your fingertip on the inside of your back molar to slowly pull it from your molars. Repeat this process on the other side of your mouth. Once the retainer is disengaged from the molars on both sides, gently pry the retainer away from your teeth with your fingertips.

how often should you wear your retainer?

Do you like your new smile? Oh yes! So, wear your retainers for as long as you want your teeth straight and that stellar smile. Make wearing retainers part of your daily routine, like brushing and flossing your teeth before going to bed.

As a general guideline, we recommend wearing your clear retainer full-time or for 20-22 hours per day for the first few months after braces removal. After this period, you can switch to wearing them only at night. Remember, the more you wear your retainer, the better you preserve that perfect smile!

caring for your retainer

Caring for your retainer is crucial to both the health of your smile and the lifetime of your appliance. Below are some key do’s and don’ts when it comes to keeping your retainer in good condition:

do’s

• Place in a plastic case with your name, address, and phone# on the inside when not wearing it… If it’s not in your mouth, it’s in the case!
• Insert and remove your retainer VERY CAREFULLY, first from the back.
• Remove your retainer when eating or drinking.
• After eating, always brush your teeth before putting your retainer back in.

To clean your retainer, use a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water. Make sure you rinse them very well. You can use denture/retainer cleaner a few times a week to keep them sparkling, if needed.

don’ts

• Don’t put in a napkin/tissue. Someone may throw it out.
• Don’t put it in your pocket without a case.
• Don’t leave it out around pets. Dogs especially love chewing on them.
• Don’t flip, flick, or play with it in your mouth.
• Don’t leave it in the sun, boil it, or microwave it. (Yes, that’s probably happened to someone.)

Replacing your Retainer

If you notice small cracks or tears. These affect the strength of the retainer and also allow for bacteria to fill the crack and grow (gross, we know)! This can lead to bad breath and plaque buildup leading to possible cavities and gum disease.

If plastic is clouded or very stained. If your retainers seem to have a white or yellow film on them — those are calcium deposits from your saliva. Bacteria love living in that so you have to either scrub to get rid of it or get a new one. That layer will no longer allow the plastic to hug and hold your tooth properly.

Surgical Orthodontics

Your orthodontist will determine if you require orthodontic surgery as part of your treatment. It may be required to correct jaw issues if you have reached the age at which the jaw bone finishes developing. This usually occurs when a female reaches the age of 16 and when a male reaches 18. Jaw issues usually include bite problems or jaw bone abnormalities.

Surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in a hospital. Your surgery will usually require a two week rest period, and it’s recommended that you take some time off from school or work to recover from this major treatment.

Your orthodontist will make necessary changes after your surgery in order to ensure your bite is correct. Braces may be required to be worn for six months to a year after surgery. Once your braces are removed, you will be issued a retainer to ensure that the spacing and alignment of your teeth remains where it needs to be.

Orthodontic surgery can have great results for those who suffer from jaw issues and pain. Above all, it is part of the process in giving you the radiant and healthy smile you deserve.

Emergency Care

True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call or text the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you can come in for an appointment with our office. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you can identify what part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you call or text our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to fix the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan.

loose brackets or bands

Call or text our office immediately for loose brackets or if a wire is loosened. The bracket may need to be re-fitted as soon as possible. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call or text our office the next business day, so that we may schedule an appointment for you.

wire irritations

Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call or text our office for an appointment.

lost separators

To insure there is enough space at the bonding appointment, separators must stay in the mouth seven to ten days before placing the bands. A lost separator is rarely an emergency but needs to be replaced on our next working day.

Common Orthodontic Conditions

In the ideal bite, the teeth are all well-aligned with upper teeth just slightly overlapping the lower teeth all around the U-shape of the mouth. Studies, however, estimate that some 70% of people have at least mild orthodontic problems, whether crooked teeth or misaligned bites.

what to look for

So why is it more common for humans to have imperfect bites than good ones?

In truth, no one knows for sure. Some evidence points to evolutionary reasons. New developments in our species’ diets over the ages caused changes in our facial structures, but our teeth didn’t keep pace with the changes. Other scientists blame the modern diet with its processed foods. Genetics also plays a role in orthodontic problems, as can individual factors like poor oral habits or the too early loss of baby teeth.

If you indeed have a “bad” bite, take comfort in the fact that you live in an age where orthodontic treatment can fix just about any bite problems in ways that are more efficient, accurate, and comfortable than ever before in history.

• Crooked Teeth — Crooked teeth often occur when the jaw is not wide enough to fit all of person’s teeth comfortably. The teeth end up askew because too many teeth are trying to fit into too small of a space.
• Spaces Between Teeth — Diastema, the scientific name for when a smile has gaps, can occur when teeth are too small for the jaw bone. It can also happen when teeth are missing and the other teeth can’t fill in the missing space. Other issues like thumb sucking can cause diastema.
• Overbite — A bite in which the upper jaw noticeably protrudes beyond the lower jaw is an overbite. If this protrusion passes a certain threshold, it’s referred to as an overjet. Overbites can cause speech impediments such as lisps, difficulty eating and jaw pain. They can also lead to tooth decay.
• Underbite — The opposite of the overbite, an underbite is when the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw. It can cause teeth to wear unevenly which in turn may cause tooth decay.
• Crossbite — Crossbites are when the upper teeth on one side end up on the inside of the lower teeth when the jaw is closed. Crossbites are a more severe condition than either overbites or underbites and can wear down teeth, leading to gum disease or bone loss. Crossbites are best treated early in childhood.
• Open Bite — If the jaw is closed and the back teeth touch but the front teeth do not, it’s called an open bite. An open bite is an aesthetic issue that can cause speech impediments.