Parents are often surprised to learn the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) suggests that children have a checkup with an Alpharetta orthodontist by the age of seven. Many consider braces to be a teenage rite of passage.
What Is The Two-Phase Treatment And What Are The Advantages?
Two-phase orthodontic treatment is a specialized process which combines orthodontics with dento-facial orthopedics. This allow the orthodontist to change the growth rate of the jaws and the facial bones when the patient is young. Two-phase treatment is important because it maximizes the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, aesthetic, and functional result that will remain beautiful throughout your life.
What Happens If I Put Off Treatment?
Putting off phase I orthodontic treatment can result in a need for more aggressive treatment later in life that may not completely fix the skeletal issues since the growth can not be modified anymore. In these cases early treatment is essential for achieving ideal and lasting results.
How Does The Two-Phase Treatment Work?
Phase One / Early Treatment
The goals of phase one treatment are 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. Early signs of jaw problems can be detected in children as they grow and develop. For instance an upper jaw that is growing too forward or is too narrow compared to the lower jaw can be recognized at an early age. These children are great candidates for orthodontic treatment since these problems are easily corrected at an early age. Crowding could also be addressed at this time. Early planning can ensure a beautiful smile later. The duration of this phase is typically six to twelve months. Children benefit greatly from early phase treatment. Receiving early treatment can prevent the removal of permanent teeth later in life, and the need for surgery to correct any jaw abnormalities.
Resting And Monitoring Period
After completion of phase one the remaining permanent teeth are left alone as they erupt. Retainers are not usually recommended because they could slow down or interfere with the eruption. It is recommended to allow the existing permanent teeth some freedom of movement. A successful first phase should have created enough room for all the permanent teeth to find an eruption path. Otherwise, they may become impacted or displaced.
After first phase of treatment is completed, your teeth are not yet in their final positions. The final positions of your teeth will be established in the second phase of treatment. Removal of specific baby teeth may be recommended in order to create more space or to quicken the eruption of permanent teeth. Because of this, you may need periodic appointments for observation, usually every six months to a year.
Phase Two
The goal of the second phase is to ensure each tooth is in the correct location in the mouth where it fits perfectly with the lips, tongue, cheeks and other teeth. When this balance is established, your teeth will function together properly. Phase two begins when all permanent teeth have erupted and usually involves upper and lower braces for about 24 months on average. Retainers are worn after this phase two so you retain your beautiful new smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is two-phase orthodontic treatment?
In orthodontics, two-phase treatment refers to the treatment that starts when a patient is still in their childhood all the way through their adolescence. The idea is to oversee the patient’s dental development, identify any developing orthodontic problems, plan an age-appropriate treatment, and start correcting any alignment complications.
Who needs two-phase treatment?
Every child should visit an orthodontist by age 7, but not everyone will need to start two-phase treatment. Parents should pay close attention and seek to start two-phase treatment if they have a family history of dental malalignment or jaw malocclusions. Since these conditions are hereditary, the best thing they can do is monitor their kids’ dental development with the help of a qualified specialist.
How can two-phase treatment change your smile?
Children might not know it, but two-phase orthodontics will gradually change their smiles, making them healthier and well-aligned. These changes lead to better social and dental development, ease of learning, and a slight change in their face shape. Make sure you consult with a board-certified orthodontist on what changes to expect from your kid’s orthodontic treatment.
What is the goal of the two phases of treatment?
Ultimately, we want to make sure that children who are susceptible to developing orthodontic problems receive the help they require at the right time to prevent the onset of additional complications as the kid grows up. The initial phase of orthodontic treatment in children can even prevent the use of braces in some cases, leveraging all the power of the kid’s natural growing process.
What is the advantage of two-phase orthodontic treatment?
The main advantage of early orthodontics is that your child gets to start treatment while the conditions are not yet as severe; besides, considering that their bones and baby teeth are still developing, it’s much easier to move things around as required by the orthodontist, meaning your kid will enjoy a much more comfortable orthodontic treatment than those undergone by teenagers and adults.