Orthodontic treatment and a child’s growth are meant to complement each other. If our doctors have determined that your child needs early interception treatment, it will be a two-phase approach.
First Phase
What types of conditions would indicate the need for early treatment? Conditions such as:
- Open bite (they can’t bring the upper and lower teeth together)
- Crowding teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Teeth not emerging in the right sequence
- Congenitally missing teeth
- Teeth that do not fully erupt
- Crossbites/Overbites
If your child has one or more of these conditions, then the first phase will begin right away, while your child still has most of their primary teeth. 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.
Resting Period
In this phase, the remaining permanent teeth are left alone as they erupt. A successful first phase will have created room for permanent teeth to find an eruption path. Otherwise, they may become impacted or severely displaced.
Second Phase
The second phase begins when all permanent teeth have erupted. 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 braces.
By timing treatment to stages of dental development, our doctors at Leone & Vaughn orthodontics can take advantage of your child’s growth and development. Problems that can be treated in a growing child may alleviate more drastic and invasive procedures later.
If you have any questions about Two Phase Orthodontics, or would like to make an appointment with an orthodontist for Seattle, WA, contact us at one of our 3 Seattle area offices.
