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Phase I Orthodontic Treatment
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About Early Orthodontic Treatment
Our founding doctor, Board Certified orthodontist Dr. Mark J. Bronsky, has a saying: “If we work with Mother Nature, she will help you get great results. If we do not, we will lose.”
This is the basic principle behind Two-Phase orthopedic and orthodontic treatment. When we see your child for their initial consultation, we’ll take diagnostic records and measurements. We perform an in-depth examination and analysis to determine where they are in the development of their jaws and teeth. In many cases, we’ll simply recommend waiting until later in development to start any necessary treatment.
In some cases, however, we may need to make modifications to the structure and positions of the jaw during growth in order to achieve a healthy and compatible relationship of the jawbones and teeth. The most beneficial time to do that is during active growth and development. That’s where Phase I treatment, also called Interceptive Treatment, comes in.
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About
Phase I Treatment
The American Association of Orthodontists (www.AAO.org) recommends that children have an initial orthodontic evaluation by the age of 7. The cranium completes its growth by the age of 6, setting the stage for robust growth of the jaw structures and teeth during normal development. Seven years old has been found to be the optimal time to gauge skeletal development and identify positions of a child’s developing permanent teeth.
Early identification of any jaw discrepancies or malocclusions can be made at this time—allowing us to modify growth and create space for permanent teeth in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.
We diagnose a patient’s inherent growth pattern and plan a natural improvement of the growth to create the most optimal relationships between the jaws. Doing this in a timely manner is important because it can improve stability, function, and esthetics of the results while helping to prevent problems down the road. A proper evaluation will help us create a seamless treatment with periodic monitoring.
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A Closer Look at Phase 1 Treatment
At the ages between 7 and 12, the bones of the mouth and skull haven’t finished forming. In fact, the left and right halves of the maxilla (upper jaw) haven’t fused together yet: they’re two separate bones at this age! The mandible (lower jaw) has a great deal of growth to complete, as well.
This means we can use specialized orthodontic appliances to slowly and gently change and redirect growth and development. We can influence jaw growth to improve jaw positions, promote healthy facial bone alignment, and even create more room in the mouth to accommodate eruption of the permanent teeth. While Phase I therapy isn’t necessary for all patients, for some, it lets us use custom orthodontic appliances to make necessary changes in growth that would be much more difficult if not impossible to accomplish later on.
Following initial Phase I therapy, your child can be re-evaluated for further growth modification and space creation as needed. Otherwise, the child will enter an observation phase where we’ll monitor growth until the appropriate time to begin Phase II treatment. This can involve braces or Invisalign® when necessary and appropriate.
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What Problems
Can Phase I Treatment Help With?
Reduce or eliminate significant discrepancies in positions of the upper and lower jaws to allow for the establishment of the most healthy and stable bite for the future.
Create space for natural eruption of the permanent teeth into the maxillary and mandibular arches, to reduce/eliminate the need for any tooth extractions needed to address overcrowding.
Lower the risk of trauma to protruding or otherwise malpositioned teeth.
Correct harmful habits.
Improve appearance and self-esteem.
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Phase I Treatment Options
Palatal expansion appliances.
Bite plane appliances to correct deep overbites.
Extra-oral traction (headgear or facemask) to positively influence jaw development.
Functional appliances—both removable and fixed to affect favorable growth.
Distalization appliances that help to create space for natural eruption of permanent teeth.
Schedule an Appointment
Two-Phase Treatment is a powerful method for helping kids achieve a healthy smile. If you think your child may benefit from Two-Phase Treatment, we’d love to speak with you. Contact us today to learn more about Two-Phase Treatment or request a consultation to get started right away!