Phase 1 Orthodontics
The start to your new smile
Phase 1 Orthodontics is typically described as early interceptive orthodontics. Sometimes it is necessary to correct orthodontic conditions early to take advantage of a child’s natural growth and development to achieve the best results. It provides the opportunity for an orthodontist to have control over creating space for the permanent teeth and correcting bite problems by addressing the structure of the jaws while growth is occurring. It is the period of time where orthodontic treatment (i.e. expansion, active retainer or partial braces) that is done before all of the permanent teeth have erupted, and often occurs between the ages of six and ten. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child should have a comprehensive orthodontic evaluation by the time they are about 7 years old. By age seven, your child’s bite is established and the amount of crowding can be determined.
Phase 1 treatment is recommended by KidZdent and Family Orthodontics when there is a moderate to severe orthodontic concern that can worsen in the developmental stages as a way of preventing a more invasive solution down the road. These types of issues should not wait until later to be treated because in some cases it is not possible to achieve optimal correction and results once the facial development is complete. In addition treatment time may be longer so we recommend a proactive approach which help to prevent or address problems early. Phase 1 treatment is not suggested for everyone and our orthodontists do tend to lead on the conservative side unless Phase 1 treatment will transform the outcome significantly or should not be delayed. Treatment should only be delivered when we are confident in the efficiency and results. Providing the best care, options and value is our priority.
Phase 1 Goals
- Develop the child’s jaws to create room for the future eruption of permanent teeth
- Improve the relationship between the upper and lower jaws ( too much growth or not enough)
- Prevent dental trauma (like fracturing or avulsing misaligned teeth or jaw injury)
- Avoiding a condition or issue to severe for braces to correct alone
Difference Between Phase I & Phase II
The overall differences between the two phases are as follows:
Phase 1 focuses on making room for the un-erupted teeth to come through while Phase 2 the ultimate goal is to position all of the permanent teeth to maximize their appearance and function (like traditional braces or Invisalign).
Potential Benefits of Phase I Treatment:
- Influence jaw growth in a positive manner
- Improve the width of the dental arches
- Reduce the need to extract permanent teeth
- Reduce or eliminate the need for jaw surgery
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Improves aesthetics and self-esteem
- Simplify and shorten treatment time for definitive Phase 2 (Orthodontic Treatment)
- Increase stability of final treatment and long-lasting results
- Reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth
- Improve speech development
- Alleviate breathing conditions or issues
- Improve positioning of the first molars
- Guide permanent teeth into more favorable positions
- Improve lip competence and balance
- Preserve of gain space in the mouth for future erupting teeth
- Improve compliance before the busy teenage years
Potential Benefits of Phase I Treatment:
- Treatment ranges between 9-18 months
- Patients are required to wear retainers
- It is best to be checked every 4-6 months while awaiting on the remaining permanent teeth to erupt
Potential Benefits of Phase I Treatment:
Phase 2 requires:
- Less patient participation
- Less hardware or elastics
- Eliminates the extraction of permanent teeth
- Reduces time spent wearing full braces
Even if your child doesn’t exhibit any of these symptoms, they may still be able to benefit from Phase 1 Orthodontics. How? A child is constantly growing and changing, and just because they don’t need orthodontics now doesn’t mean they won’t need them later. Early orthodontic consultations assist our orthodontists in determining when as well as if your child needs future orthodontic treatment. By understanding the timing of your child’s development, one of our KidZdent and Family orthodontists will be able to achieve the best results with the least amount
of effort, which is ideal for everyone.
Get in Touch
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