Outstanding Service. Outstanding Smiles!

Premier Orthodontics

Care in Orland Park

At Sonneveld Orthodontics, Dr. Tom Sonneveld, Dr. Craig Sonneveld, and their team, are dedicated to providing quality orthodontic care to patients of all ages in the Orland Park, Tinley Park, and Oak Forest areas. While the orthodontic treatments provided at our office are designed to give you a healthy smile, patient education is a crucial component to the process as well. Here is a list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding orthodontic treatment.

No, it is not. Many of our patients are referred to Sonneveld Orthodontics by their family dentist, yet many other patients take the initiative to schedule an orthodontic examination themselves.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age 7. By this age, several permanent teeth in most children have erupted, allowing us to effectively evaluate your orthodontic condition. Drs. Tom and Craig Sonneveld can determine if early orthodontic treatment is necessary for your child and if braces will be appropriate down the line.

No, they will not. The space available for front teeth does not increase as you grow. In most people, after the permanent molars erupt, the space available for front teeth decreases with age.

If you are interested in orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, simply contact us by calling or texting our office, sending us an e-mail or filling out our appointment request form online. We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you to visit our Orland Park office. When you call to schedule your appointment, our front office staff will request some basic information from you.

On your first visit with our practice, each patient and parent will be seen by the staff and either Dr. Tom Sonneveld or Dr. Craig Sonneveld. They will acclimate you to our office and prepare you for the initial orthodontic exam. We will take the necessary photographs and X-rays to allow us to make a proper diagnosis. Drs. Tom and Craig Sonneveld will then complete a brief, but thorough, exam.

There are five essential questions we will cover during the initial orthodontic examination:

  • Is there an orthodontic problem, and if so, what is it?
  • What must be done to correct the problem?
  • Will any teeth need to be removed?
  • How long will the treatment take to complete?
  • How much will the treatment cost?

Removing teeth is sometimes required to achieve the best orthodontic result. Straight teeth and a balanced facial profile are the goal of orthodontics. However, because new technology has provided advanced orthodontic procedures, removing teeth is not always necessary for orthodontic treatment.

Treatment time obviously depends on each patient’s specific orthodontic problem. In general, treatment times range from 12 to 30 months. The “average” time frame a person is in braces is approximately 22 months.

It is impossible to give an exact cost for treatment until we have examined you. We will cover the exact cost and financial options during the initial orthodontic examination. There are many financing options available to accommodate your needs in the Orland Park, Tinley Park and Oak Forest areas, and we will review these with you. We will also review your insurance policy, help to maximize your benefits, and file your claims.

Appointments are scheduled according to each patient’s needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every 5 to 10 weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.

Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for students during after-school hours. However, because most appointments are scheduled five to 10 weeks apart, most patients will miss minimal school due to their orthodontic treatments. We will, however, make a sincere effort to meet your scheduling needs.

Yes. We understand you may have a busy schedule, and we are happy to help you make the most of your time. On some occasions, we may request to speak with a parent during the appointment, so we ask that parents check in with their patient manager before dropping off their child.

Generally, braces do not “hurt.” After certain visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, pain medications such as Advil or Tylenol will ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all! We often remind our patients, “It does not have to hurt to work!”

Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment.

No. Shots are not necessary when receiving treatment from Sonneveld Orthodontics in Orland Park.

Yes. We recommend wearing a mouthguard while playing any sport.

Yes! Regular checkups with your family dentist are important while wearing braces. Your family dentist will determine the intervals between cleaning appointments.

Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain the complete instructions and provide a comprehensive list of foods to avoid. Some of those foods include: ice, hard candy, raw vegetables, and all sticky foods (i.e. caramel and taffy). You can avoid most emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces by carefully following our instructions.

Patients should brush their teeth at least four times each day – after each meal and before going to bed. We will show each patient how to floss their teeth with braces and may also provide a prescription for a special fluoride, if necessary.

If your braces are causing extreme pain or if something on them breaks, you should call our office. In most cases, we can address these issues over the telephone. If you require an emergency appointment, we will set aside time for you.

Yes. Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to require early intervention. However, if a patient is not yet ready for treatment, Drs. Tom and Craig Sonneveld and their team will follow that patient’s growth and development until the time is right for treatment to begin.

Phase One orthodontic treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 10. Phase One treatment lasts about 8-12 months. The primary objective for Phase One treatment is to address significant problems to prevent them from becoming more severe and to improve self-esteem and self-image.

It is best to assume that your child will need full braces even after Phase One treatment. The period following Phase One treatment is called the “resting period,” during which growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored. Throughout this period, parents and patients will be kept informed of future treatment recommendations, like braces.

At the completion of the initial orthodontic examination, Drs. Tom and Craig Sonneveld will determine whether a patient will need an expander.

A surprising percentage of our patients in the Orland Park, Tinley Park and Oak Forest areas are adults. In fact, 25 percent of all orthodontic patients are adults. Health, happiness, and self-esteem are vitally important to adults and adult orthodontic treatment can help you achieve these things. No patient is “too old” to wear braces! We also offer Invisalign as an alternative to conventional braces if you’re looking for a more discrete form of orthodontic treatment.

Yes. A tooth with a crown will move just like a tooth with a simple filling. When teeth are missing, orthodontic treatment will aid in the alignment of the remaining teeth.

Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is important that the treatment is appropriate and properly completed. Orthodontic specialists have extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide their patients with professional, personalized treatments.

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Your Oak Forest Orthodontist

If you have more questions about orthodontic treatment that were not addressed here or you would like more information about the treatments we offer at Sonneveld Orthodontics, please do not hesitate to contact our Orland Park office. One of our knowledgeable team members will be happy to assist you. And if you’re ready to begin orthodontic treatment, we can get an appointment scheduled to get you on your way to a happy and healthy smile!