Two-Phase Treatment

HEALTHY SMILES START EARLY

It is recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists for children to have their first orthodontic check-up by age seven. 

What is the advantage of two-phase orthodontic treatment?

Two-phase orthodontic treatment consists of two separate times when a child receives orthodontic treatment. The first phase begins when a child has a mix of baby and adult teeth and early intervention has been recommended by the doctor to prevent a problem from developing, intercept a developing problem, and/or guide the growth of the jaw bones that support the teeth. 

What if treatment is put off?

Putting off treatment can result in a need for more invasive treatment later in life that may not completely fix your child's smile. Early treatment is most effective for achieving lasting results.

Phase One

The goal of Phase One treatment is to help the jaw develop in a way that will accommodate all of the permanent teeth and improve the way the upper and lower jaws fit together. Children often exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop. An upper jaw that is growing too much or is too narrow can be recognized at an early age. If children over the age of six are found to have this jaw discrepancy, they are candidates for early orthodontic treatment. Also, if children have crowded front teeth, early treatment can prevent the need to extract permanent teeth later. 

• Planning now can save your child's smile later

  Children benefit tremendously from early-phase treatment. Receiving early treatment may prevent the removal of permanent teeth later in life, or the need for surgical procedures to realign the jaws, or guide in impacted teeth. 

• Making records to determine your child's unique treatment

  Orthodontic records will be necessary to determine the type of appliances to be used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits. Records consist of digital models of the teeth, X-rays, and photographs. During your child's initial consultation, the doctor will take records to determine if early treatment is necessary.

• Phase One treatment can be done with Invisalign First, metal braces or clear braces. 

Growth and Development/Observation Period

Once the goals of Phase One treatment have been met, one set of retainers will be provided. We will monitor the growth and development of the remaining adult teeth every 4-6 months until Phase 2 treatment is recommended to begin. 

Phase Two

The goal of the second phase is to make sure 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 Two usually involves full upper and lower Invisalign or Braces.