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Contrary to popular belief, orthodontic treatment is not just for older children and teens who have alignment and spacing issues. At our Arcadia, Chandler, Gilbert, or Phoenix, AZ office, orthodontic treatment offers many benefits for children at a young age.

Doctors Asgari, Cox, and Vu. can identify your child’s alignment issues early, and provide treatment as the teeth begin to develop. It’s crucial to start dental care early, not only for proper dental health and cosmetic benefits, but to improve your child’s overall health.

The Benefits of Straighter Teeth

Aside from cosmetic benefits, starting orthodontic treatment at a young age offers many other advantages. A pediatric dentist can help guide the teeth into their proper position to prevent teeth extractions or bite problems, and even reduce the extent of orthodontic treatment later on.

Your youngster will enjoy the confidence of having straight teeth that, as an added bonus, will be easier to clean. Parents will be happy to hear the earlier your child gets treatment, the less your orthodontic expenses could be; plus, it is often covered by dental insurance.

Stages of Orthodontic Treatment

Multiple stages are included in early orthodontic treatment, but there are three main stages.

Stage 1: Treatment starts around age two or three until the child is around six. This stage includes preventive measures to avoid habits that lead to crooked teeth, and monitoring how the teeth grow in.

Stage 2: The first permanent teeth appear around age six to 12 years old and the dentist looks at possible early treatment for misalignment or bite issues.

Stage 3: Any further problems with permanent teeth are corrected during adolescence.

Doctors Asgari, Cox, and Vu. and our staff are able to see early on whether your child will need to have braces in adolescence. Early treatment means fewer procedures, cleaner teeth, and less expense for parents. It’s a win-win for everyone!

So you’re about to get braces. Congratulations! You are taking a very smart step to improve the health of your teeth as well as get that killer smile in shape. But, as with anything that is good for you, there are a few things you will have to avoid while you “do your time.”

Some foods don’t do so great with braces. The foods listed below should be avoided while you are wearing your braces because they can pop the brackets and bend the wires. In other words, these foods can really ruin your day, and send you back to Sonoran Smile Orthodontics to get your braces repaired.

So before you hit the chair, hit the grocery and candy store – one last time – for:

• Beef jerky
• Raw carrots
• Taffy
• Pizza crust
• Bagels and other crusty bread
• Popcorn
• Hard candy
• Nuts and seeds

Doctors Asgari, Cox, and Vu. and our staff will give you more information about eating with braces. Some foods, such as apples, are okay as long as you cut them in pieces first. Others, like pudding and pasta, are fine just as they are. But then there is “the list”: the foods that are a big no-no and should be avoided. It won’t be forever, so hang in there.

Your braces time will pass before you know it and you can resume more normal eating. But before the braces go on, enjoy these tasty treats. Go ahead and indulge!

Happy April from Sonoran Smile Orthodontics. We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy!  

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis we have reduced our days open and are tending to emergency appointments only--per the American Dental Association’s recommendations. We intend to be fully open again as of May 1st and will send a notification via email and through other media channels confirming or delaying this decision.  

That being said, we are still here to help you in any way we can! Please contact our office (480) 988-0028, immediately, if you fall into any of these categories: 

1. Due for an orthodontic adjustment appointment and we have not rescheduled you.  
2. If you have had a consultation and need to come in for your braces.
3. Family and friends who need to come in for a consultation, have them call too!

Sonoran Smile is committed to your comfort and will be performing virtual checkups. Here are some things to keep in mind during your treatment at this time: 

1. If you are wearing rubber bands, please text Dr. Vu a picture of your bite and she can give you instructions. Text: (480) 760-5504
2. If you have poking wires, please call (480) 988-0028 to schedule an emergency appointment and we can clip the wire.
3. If you have broken brackets, please schedule an appointment in May. The bracket will be okay until we are able to see you. 
4. If you have an expander, please stop turning it.

Finally; if you feel ill, have been ill recently or have a family member who is ill, please, for the safety of our staff and other patients, reschedule your appointment. Be sure to follow CDC guidelines and please take care of yourself. 

Though life is stressful and uncertain at times we hope everyone is still keeping up their oral health routine! Please brush and floss daily. Your continued commitment to good oral health keeps your teeth and gums healthy and that’s exactly what we want to see the next time we have the pleasure of seeing you in our office.  

We really miss seeing all our patients and we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time as we begin to reschedule appointments. Thank you all for your cooperation and we can’t say this enough...WE MISS YOU and THIS WILL PASS! 

If you’ve just gotten braces at our Arcadia, Chandler, Gilbert, or Phoenix, AZ office, you’ve probably also learned a whole new vocabulary. Malocclusion, brackets, archwires, ligatures, elastics—you’ve got the definitions down. But now you’re scheduled for an “adjustment.” What exactly does that mean?

Why Do I Need an Adjustment?

After all, you’ve just gotten braces! But the fact is, moving your teeth to their ideal location is a process that involves many steps. The brackets and wires you have today are only a starting point. Wires, and rubber bands if you need them, put gentle pressure on the teeth, gradually moving them into a better position. Every time we see you, we check the progress you’ve made and adjust your braces to move the teeth into even better alignment. It’s a careful process to make sure your teeth and jaws fit together perfectly for straight teeth and a healthy bite.

What Will Happen at an Adjustment?

Because your braces are made specifically for you, there is no one answer for everyone or even every appointment. Usually, your ligatures (the colorful bands around your brackets) will be removed, and often the orthodontic wire that is attached to your brackets will be removed as well. We’ll check to make sure you are brushing and flossing properly around your wires and brackets, and check on the condition of your braces.

Your wire might be adjusted, or bent, or tightened, or replaced all together. In the beginning, the wire will probably be more flexible. Later in your treatment, you might get a thicker, firmer wire to move your teeth more effectively, or we might bend a wire to move specific teeth.

If you need rubber bands to make sure your bite is in alignment, we’ll show you how to attach and take care of those. We’ll also look for other adjustments that might need to be made to your brackets. If you have any concerns about brackets, wires, or any other part of your braces, let Doctors Asgari, Cox, and Vu. know! And once we’re done adjusting your braces, this is your chance to change the color of your ligatures for a new look.

Will It Hurt?

You might suffer some discomfort in the hours after an adjustment, so treat yourself gently! Stick to soft foods for a few days, and treat yourself to something cold and soothing like ice cream, yogurt, or a smoothie. Brush gently if your teeth are sensitive. Usually, over-the-counter pain relievers will take care of any soreness. You can even take a pain reliever 30 minutes to an hour before the adjustment if you are expecting some discomfort. We have more great ideas on how to reduce any tenderness you might feel—let us know if we can suggest some.

Within a day or two, you should be back to normal. If you ever suffer serious discomfort, or if the soreness lasts more than a few days, give us a call.

Remember, each adjustment brings you closer to your goal—straight teeth and a healthy bite. And that’s the definition of a beautiful smile!