Two-Phase Treatment
Two-phase orthodontic treatment is used most commonly to address certain key foundational concerns in young children. Phase One treatment (early intervention) will begin when a child still has many baby teeth, and most commonly includes:
- crossbite correction
- reduction of a significant overbite or underbite
- management of harmful habits
- management of ectopic teeth (directed in the wrong direction)
The benefits of Phase One treatment are reduction of complexity of treatment when the patient is older, ability to do growth modification of the jaws, and creation of a better foundation for the adult teeth to be able to erupt into. Phase Two treatment (comprehensive treatment) is most commonly done in pre-teen or early teen years to complete alignment of all the permanent teeth and achieve a perfect bite and smile. Phase Two is usually full braces or clear aligners.
Not all children need two-phase treatment. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends a child's first orthodontic check up by around age seven (depending on dental development) to determine if your child has any early treatment needs.
During your initial orthodontic consultation, a panoramic X-ray is often indicated for complete evaluation of the developing dentition. At this appointment, Dr. Norman will discuss any Phase One needs or recommend monitoring your child for a single phase of treatment when they are older.
