Your child has a lifetime of smiles ahead of them

Everything You Need to Know About Two-Phase Treatment:

• Two-phase orthodontic treatment is a specialized process that orchestrates tooth straightening and physical, facial changes. Two-phase treatment maximizes the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, and esthetic result that will remain stable throughout life.  
  
  
• Delaying early or interceptive treatment, when indicated, can result in the need for more invasive treatment later in life that may not completely fix your child’s smile.  Early treatment is most effective when initiated after age 7.
  
  
• Phase I Treatment: Phase-One treatment is designed to help the jaws develop in a way that will accommodate all of the permanent teeth and improve the fit of the upper and lower jaws with one another.  Children often exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop.  An upper jaw that is growing improperly can be recognized at a young age.  If children over the age of 7 are found to have this jaw discrepancy, they are candidates for early or “interceptive” orthodontic treatment.  Also, if youngsters around age 8 have crowded front teeth, early treatment can avoid the need to extract permanent teeth later.
  
  
• Making records to determine your child’s treatment: Orthodontic records are necessary to determine the scope of treatment and the type of appliance necessary to correct the problem. Records consist of X-rays, digital photographs and a digital 3D scan of the teeth.  Records are usually taken at the initial examination if treatment is indicated.
  
  
• Resting Period:  At the completion of Phase I, the remaining permanent teeth are left alone as they erupt. Retainers may not be advised if they are determined to interfere with natural tooth eruption. A successful first phase treatment will have created enough room for the permanent teeth to find an eruption path into the mouth. Otherwise, said teeth may become impacted or displaced.
  
  
• Monitoring teeth’s progress:  At the completion of phase I, teeth are not in their final positions. This will be determined and accomplished in the second phase of treatment, if necessary. Removal of select baby teeth may be indicated to promote eruption of the permanent teeth. Therefore, periodic recall appointments for observation are encouraged during this time.
  
  
• Phase II Treatment: Second phase treatment is designed to make sure that 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 II usually involves upper and lower braces or upper and lower aligners.  When indicated, second phase treatment begins when all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Retainers are recommended after this phase to ensure the teeth maintain their new positions.