Expert Orthodontist for Kids and Teens Braces & Invisalign

A Guide for Porter Ranch Families from Dr. Dadjoo

Hey families,
I get this question all the time:
“What is a two-phase treatment?”
“Why does my child’s friend already have braces in first grade?”

Let me tell you — a lot has changed in orthodontics since you and I had our treatment. Over the last 20 to 30 years, we’ve learned a ton about child development, facial growth, and airway health.

My personal passion has always been in helping kids develop healthy faces, strong airways, and confident smiles — and that’s exactly how we design treatment here at Dadjoo Orthodontics.

Orthodontics today isn’t just about teeth. It’s about setting the foundation for how a child’s face grows, how they breathe, how they speak, and how they carry themselves in the world.

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Table of Contents

1. How Orthodontics Has Changed
2. What Is a Two-Phase Treatment?
   • Phase I – Early Orthodontic Treatment
   • Do Kids Really Need Braces This Young? Busting a Common Myth
   • Phase II – Full Orthodontic Treatment
3. Why Two-Phase Treatment Is So Popular in Our Porter Ranch Office
4. When Should Your Child See an Orthodontist?
5. How Much Does Two-Phase Treatment Cost?
6. Let’s Talk About Your Child’s Smile

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How Orthodontics Has Changed

Years ago, we mostly focused on moving teeth. Now, we look at the whole face, the airway, and the long-term function of your child’s bite. We know how things like mouth breathing, thumb sucking, and nail biting can affect the way a child’s face and smile develop.

That’s why we look at kids much earlier now — around age 7 — to catch small problems before they become big ones.

What Is a Two-Phase Treatment?

Phase I – Early Orthodontic Treatment

This is when we work on the bones and jaw growth — not just the teeth. Phase I usually starts between ages 7–10, when a child still has baby teeth.

Here’s what we focus on in Phase I:

• Guiding the upper and lower jaw growth
• Creating enough space for all the permanent teeth
• Correcting crossbites, underbites, overbites
• Addressing oral habits like thumb sucking or nail biting or mouthbreathing
• Supporting proper nasal breathing and facial balance

Phase I treatment typically lasts about 9–12 months, followed by a retention period to hold the progress. After that, there’s usually a resting phase, where we monitor growth until all adult teeth have erupted. This break can last a few years depending on the child’s development.

During this time, we often use expanders or orthopedic appliances rather than jumping straight to braces. In many cases, placing braces only once during the second phase leads to better, more stable outcomes.

1. Thumb sucking has caused open bite and right side crossbite

Do Kids Really Need Braces This Young? Busting a Common Myth

It’s completely normal for parents to wonder:
“Can’t we just wait?”
“Won’t they grow out of it?”

The truth is, kids don’t grow out of crossbites, underbites, or narrow palates. Left untreated, these issues can cause:

• Permanent bite asymmetry
• Jaw shifts or facial imbalance
• Gum recession or even tooth loss

Here’s why early treatment matters:

• Bones are softer and more responsive between ages 7–12, which is when most jaw growth occurs
• Orthopedic appliances work best during this window — after that, certain growth sutures begin to close
• Timely treatment helps us guide the face and jaw naturally, avoiding the need for surgery later

At Dadjoo Orthodontics, we often wait on braces — but we don’t wait on the dentofacial orthopedics and bone remodeling that need to happen while the face is still growing.

2. Patient just has a narrow upper jaw, crossbite on the right side

Phase II – Full Orthodontic Treatment

Once all the permanent teeth are in — usually between ages 11–13 — we begin Phase II.

In this stage, we:

• Use braces or Invisalign to align the teeth
• Fine-tune the bite and esthetics
• Finish the smile transformation

After Phase II, we provide final retainers to maintain the results and protect your investment for life.

3. Patient has an anterior crossbite the upper right front tooth is behind the lower teeth.

Why Two-Phase Treatment Is So Popular in Our Porter Ranch Office

Two-phase treatment is one of the most requested services at Dadjoo Orthodontics.
Why? Because it works. When we address issues early — like narrow palates, crossbites, or deep bites — we can often prevent:

• Jaw surgery later in life
• The need for tooth extractions
• Prolonged time in braces

But here’s something important I want you to know:

We don’t place braces on kids “just because.”
Every child’s growth pattern, airway development, and dental situation is different — so each treatment plan we create is completely personalized. In fact, many times, we start with something simple like a palatal expander to create space and allow the teeth to come in naturally.

I’ve found that waiting until the right moment — and placing braces only once, during the second phase — often leads to better long-term results for our patients.

That said, if you’re concerned or would prefer to begin sooner, we’ll walk you through all your options. We’re here to tailor your child’s orthodontic treatment to your family’s specific goals and timeline.

4. There is a severe overbite and the patient is biting on the gum of the roof of their mouth

When Should Your Child See an Orthodontist?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends age 7 as the right time for a first evaluation — even if everything looks straight.

By this age:

• The first adult molars are in
• We can see how the bite is forming
• We can spot early signs of crowding, crossbite, or jaw imbalance

At our office, that first consultation is always free — and there’s no pressure to start treatment. It’s just a chance to get the full picture and give you peace of mind.

6.  Patient is mouth breathing and has narrow jaws, he unfortunately also ground down 60% of his teeth by grinding at night!

How Much Does Two-Phase Treatment Cost?

The cost of orthodontic care can vary widely based on your child’s needs, but I believe in keeping things simple and transparent.

At Dadjoo Orthodontics, the total cost for treatment — whether it’s done in one phase or two — generally falls between $2,000 and $9,880.

Here’s what that includes:

• All appliances (like expanders or braces)
• Customized treatment planning
• Retainers after each phase
• Free emergency visits
• Personalized, one-on-one care from a board-certified orthodontist

We also offer:

• Free consultations
• Flexible monthly payment plans
• No extra charge for Invisalign vs. braces
• Help with insurance and FSA/HSA benefits

Every treatment plan is tailored to your child’s unique situation — and we’ll walk through all the options together before anything begins.

Let’s Talk About Your Child’s Smile

At Dadjoo Orthodontics in Porter Ranch, we go beyond straight teeth — we’re designing treatments that support healthy facial growth, wide airways, and confident smiles for kids throughout our community.

If your child is around age 7 — or if you’ve noticed mouth breathing, nail biting, jaw shifting, or bite issues — we’d love to meet them. Call our office or schedule your free consultation online today.
We’re proud to serve families across Porter Ranch, Northridge, Chatsworth, and the surrounding areas with expert, compassionate care.