Beautiful Smiles for Children, Teens & Adults
Dr. Sarpo and Dr. Sun believe that everyone should have access to high-quality orthodontic care and stunningly straight smiles.
At Icon Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer a full range of orthodontics for children, teens, and adults at our offices in Glendale and Surprise.
Orthodontics for Children
The American Association of Orthodontists and your orthodontists that most children should in Glendale and Surprise recommend should have an orthodontic screening by age seven.
This allows Dr. Andrew Sarpotdar and Dr. Jenny Sun to determine if orthodontic treatment will be required and the best time to treat the patient.
Benefits of Early Evaluation
Early diagnosis and treatment can:
- Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions
- Correct thumb-sucking
- Eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems
- Gain space for permanent teeth
- Guide erupting teeth into a more favorable position
- Preserve space for permanent teeth
- Reduce the likelihood of fracturing protruded front teeth
- Reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches
Early treatment does not necessarily benefit all children. The doctors develop a treatment plan based on each child's needs.
If Dr. Sarpotdar or Dr. Sun decides your child isn't ready for treatment, we'll place them in our amazing orthodontic supervisory program—Puggle Patrol.
About the Orthodontic Supervisory Program
The orthodontic supervisory program (also known as Puggle Patrol Kids Club) is for patients who are not ready for treatment and are placed on observation. This program allows us to monitor the eruptive pattern of the permanent teeth.
Sometimes, poor erupted patterns of permanent teeth may be eliminated with early removal of baby teeth and reduce the treatment time required for braces. We will notify your general dentist of any recommendations made during your visit.
We usually see the patients on recall every six to eight months to observe their progress as they grow. There is no fee for this program, and it helps Dr. Sarpotdar and Dr. Sun determine the optimum time to begin treatment and achieve the best possible result for your child.
Additional Benefits of Early Treatment
Braces can:
- Improve the ability to clean the teeth
- Improve the function of the bite and teeth
- Increase the longevity of natural teeth over a lifetime
- Prevent wear on the teeth
Common Questions About Early Treatment
Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment
Two-phase orthodontic treatment at Icon Orthodontics is a specialized process that combines tooth straightening and physical, facial changes.
Two-phase treatment aims to get the most healthy, functional, and aesthetic result that will remain stable throughout your child’s life.
Reasons for Two-Phase Treatment
Typically about one in three children between ages 7-10 will require two-phase treatment for specific reasons including, but not limited to, the reasons below.
Crossbite
A crossbite refers to the top teeth being “stuck” behind the bottom teeth. This can lead to an uncomfortable bite and asymmetry of the face and chin as the child tries to shift their lower jaw to fit with the crossbite tooth or teeth.
Impacted Teeth
Impacted teeth get “stuck” underneath the bones and gums on their way into the mouth. These are usually permanent teeth and are often not noticed without taking an X-Ray that Dr. Sarpo or Dr. Sun will read.
Treatment for such conditions can be simple if caught early or may require surgery if left unnoticed until later in life.
Poor Self Esteem
It is important not to overlook the value of treatment for children who suffer from bullying or poor self-esteem due to the appearance of their teeth.
Although aesthetics is often not a primary concern during the first phase of treatment, it is important to let Dr. Sarpotdar or Dr. Sun know if your child’s dental appearance is causing them emotional trauma. Often they can customize a solution that can significantly improve your child’s dental appearance.
What Happens If You Delay Treatment?
Putting off treatment can require more invasive treatment later in life that may not completely fix your child’s smile.
In certain conditions, children may require surgery later in life to correct problems that early treatment with Icon Orthodontics may prevent. Early treatment is most effective for achieving lasting results.
Phase One
The goal of Phase One treatment is to help the jaw develop to accommodate all of the permanent teeth and improve the way the upper and lower jaws fit together. Children often exhibit early jaw problems as they grow and develop (conditions like those listed above are often caused by inadequate development of one or both jaws).
An upper jaw that is growing too much or is too narrow can be recognized at an early age. If children over the age of six are found to have this jaw discrepancy, they are candidates for early orthodontic treatment.
Also, if children around the age of eight have crowded front teeth, early treatment can prevent the need to extract permanent teeth later.
- Children benefit tremendously from early-phase treatment.
- Receiving early treatment may prevent the removal of permanent teeth later in life or the need for surgical procedures to realign the jaws.
- Orthodontic records will be necessary to determine the type of appliances to be used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits.
- Records consist of models of the teeth, X-rays, and photographs.
- During your child’s first free consultation, Dr. Sarpotdar or Dr. Sun will take records to determine if early treatment is necessary.
Resting Period
The remaining permanent teeth are left alone as they erupt in this phase. Retaining devices may not be recommended if they would interfere with eruption.
It is best to allow the existing permanent teeth some freedom of movement. A successful first phase will have created room for permanent teeth to find an eruption path. Otherwise, they may become impacted or severely displaced.
At the end of the first phase of treatment, teeth are not in their final positions. This will be determined and accomplished in the second phase of treatment. Selective removal of certain primary (baby) teeth may be in the best interest of enhancing eruption during this resting phase. Therefore, periodic recall appointments for observation are necessary, usually on a six-month basis.
Phase Two
The goal of the second phase is to make sure each tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth.
When this equilibrium is established, the teeth will function together properly. Phase Two usually involves full upper and lower braces.
The second phase begins when all permanent teeth have erupted, typically between 11 and 17, and usually requires braces on all the teeth for an average of 24 months. Retainers are worn after this phase to ensure your child retains their beautiful smile.
Different orthodontic issues in children warrant different types of treatment and different times. Contact Icon Orthodontics to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Sarpotdar and Dr. Sun to determine if it’s appropriate to start treating your child.
Orthodontics for Adults
Orthodontics is not just for children and teens. No one is too old for orthodontic treatment. In fact, at Icon Orthodontics, one in every five patients in treatment is an adult.
Adults around Glendale and Surprise seek orthodontic treatment for many of the same reasons as children. Some adults had orthodontic problems as children but could not correct them until now.
Others, who had treatment as children, may need further treatment as adults due to relapse or limitations in the initial treatment.
Benefits of Orthodontics for Adults
Adults can benefit from orthodontic treatment in many ways. These include:
- Align the teeth to create a more aesthetic and beautiful smile
- Correct relapse after previous orthodontic treatment due to lack of long term retainer wear
- Improve the ability to brush and floss, especially for crowded or overlapping lower front teeth
- Create a better or more comfortable bite and ability to chew
- Address missing teeth
- Close spaces between the teeth
- Reduce excessive wear on the teeth due to grinding or poor bite
- Jaw surgery to correct discrepancy between the upper and lower jaws.
Additional Benefits
Subtle Braces
Many adults are concerned with the appearance of braces. Dr. Sarpotdar and Dr. Sun can often use InBrace or Invisalign® to treat adults.
Invisalign technology involves clear removable aligners created with 3D imaging to align the teeth. For more severe problems, we have the option of clear ceramic brackets instead of metal.
Cost
The fee for adult orthodontic treatment is determined the same way as child or adolescent treatment. Costs are based on the severity of the problem, complexity of the correction, appliances used, and the length of time to correct. Learn more about our easy financing.
Dr. Andrew Sarpotdar and Dr. Jenny Sun have treated individuals in their 50’s, 60’s and even their 70’s. It is never too late to gain the smile you have always wanted.
Soreness & Discomfort
Orthodontic treatment is no more uncomfortable for adults than for children. Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment report the same level of soreness as children, although adults are more willing to tell us about the soreness.
Typically, the teeth are most uncomfortable 12-24 hours after an orthodontic adjustment and will disappear within 3 to 5 days. Modern appliances are smaller and more comfortable to wear.
With the new titanium technology, modern techniques put less pressure on the teeth to cause discomfort while moving the teeth more rapidly and efficiently. It also decreases the time required between adjustments to every 8 – 10 weeks. Treatment time, on average, is completed in 15-18 months.
Start With a Free Consultation
Start your journey towards a healthy new smile today and schedule your free consultation with our team of expert orthodontists, Dr. Sarpo and Dr. Sun.
Come to Icon Orthodontics and we’ll talk about your options and develop an orthodontic treatment plan designed just for your needs and smile goals.
