As the onset of teeth and jaw misalignments in children has escalated over the past decade, many orthodontists are starting early orthodontic treatment, also called two-phase treatment, to prevent worsening oral conditions. At OrthoStyle, we offer early orthodontic treatment as a way to help your child grow into their smile naturally.
How Early Orthodontic Treatment Works at OrthoStyle
Early orthodontic treatment is considered a compelling choice for children faced with misalignments before the eruption of their permanent teeth. Early orthodontic treatment consists of two stages throughout your child’s life to help them achieve better, more lasting results. At OrthoStyle, we can help guide you through this process and give your children a pleasant, beautiful smile that will last a lifetime:
Phase One
Phase one refers to interventions that focus on a specific problem, such as overcrowding, inadequate palate space, and poor jaw development. Our goal during this stage is to provide conservative treatments that are performed during their mixed dentition stage. This stage normally lasts about 12 months and can help reduce the complexity of their orthodontic treatments later on.
Throughout your child’s care, we work with various treatments to help create room for incoming teeth, including:
Palatal Expanders: Palatal expanders can help negate common childhood problems such as thumb sucking and help make space in the mouth for larger teeth to erupt.
Limited Braces: In some cases, braces can be placed onto specific teeth to help negate misalignment problems with the teeth.
Invisalign First: Some clear aligners, such as Invisalign First, offer a removable aligner for children to use, giving them more confidence with their treatment.
Phase Two
Phase two refers to the second stage of early orthodontic treatment. It attempts to correct multiple problems with your child’s teeth and bites, and treatments last between 12 to 36 months, depending on their severity.
It’s used to correct issues involving permanent teeth and includes treatments such as:
Metal Braces: Metal braces on the upper and lower teeth can help finish off their progress from phase one, addressing issues with their misalignment and jaw growth that couldn’t be addressed during their formative years.
Clear/Ceramic Braces: Ceramic braces offer the same capabilities as metal braces but work with porcelain brackets to provide a more aesthetic appearance.
Clear Aligners: Clear aligners such as Invisalign and our in-house aligners can be used to correct or continue their treatment from phase one.
Plastic Retainers: Retainers are used after successful braces treatment and are maintained for another year or two to keep their progress in check.
Early orthodontic treatment can help maximize your child’s development, giving them a stable foundation for good oral care.
Give Your Child Early Orthodontic Treatment at OrthoStyle Today!
At OrthoStyle, we will ensure the best quality care to help correct your condition and help bring out a happier smile. We serve Poway, CA, and the greater San Diego area. For more information, contact OrthoStyle today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mina Katchooi and see the difference in our care.
