What Is Phase 1 Treatment?
As a parent, you want your child to have a beautiful and healthy smile for years to come. Helping them achieve that, however, can feel overwhelming but fortunately, our Carmel, IN, orthodontists are here to guide you through every step of the process.
Here’s what you need to know about Phase 1 orthodontic treatment for your child.
Ideal Time to Begin Phase 1
If needed, it’s best for children to start phase 1 treatment between the ages of 7 and 10. This timeframe falls right in the “mixed dentition phase” when your child is starting to lose baby teeth and gain permanent adult teeth.
Should there be any issues regarding the growth of the jaw or tooth development, our orthodontists can more easily address them at this point. As your child ages, it becomes harder to correct problems of this nature without in-depth or lengthy procedures.
Once problems have been remedied and your child has lost most if not all of their baby teeth, they can move forward with Phase 2 orthodontic treatment but not before a resting period has finished. Unlike Phase 1, Phase 2 is designed to take function, bite, and appearance into account.
What to Expect During Phase 1Treatment
Length of Phase 1 treatment will ultimately vary for every patient. On average, the entire process can take anywhere from 9 to 18 months depending on the dental issues at hand. Dr. Davila or Dr. Hani will speak with you and your child during the initial consultation so you are both aware of any timelines.
To treat bite growth, aid jaw development, and guide erupting permanent teeth, it’s common for one or more of the following to be used in Phase 1 treatment:
- Headgear
- Partial Braces
- Space Maintainer
- Personalized Retainer
We’ll want to check up on your child every 4 to 6 months as their smile changes. Our orthodontists will then discuss with you the possibility of placing metal braces, ceramic braces, or another form of orthodontia after all permanent teeth have appeared.
Purpose of Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment
It is not unusual for children to require . While this may seem like extra work at the time, the culmination of Phase 1 and 2 should spare your child from worse oral complications down the road when they’re more difficult to treat.
As a whole, two-phase treatment helps to:
- Reduce the need for tooth extraction or jaw surgery later on
- Correct how the upper and lower jaw come together (i.e., fix underbites, overbites, open bites, etc.)
- Address a patient’s thumb sucking habit or abnormal swallowing
- Prevent future instances of dental trauma
- Ensure there is enough room for permanent teeth to avoid overcrowding
Give Our Orthodontics Office a Call
Set your child’s smile up for success early on in their life. At WestClay Orthodontics, our orthodontists serving Carmel, IN, and Greater Indianapolis can help you do exactly that with Phase 1 treatment. Call our office today at (317) 593-1400 to request an appointment.