What is the Advantage of Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment?
The purpose of two-phase orthodontic treatment is to combine tooth straightening methods with physical, facial changes. It is used primarily to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal aesthetic, healthy, and functional result that will remain consistently in place throughout your child’s life.
What if Treatment is Put Off?
Delaying two-phase orthodontic treatment may cause the necessity for more invasive treatment later on. These treatments may not completely fix any issues in your child’s smile. Early, two-phase orthodontic treatment is ideal for achieving lasting results.
Phase One
Phase One is important, because it lays the foundation for your child’s lasting, beautiful smile. It is designed to help the jaw develop in a way that will enable it to accommodate all of the permanent teeth, as well as improve the way both sides of the jaws fit together. Children may begin to show signs of jaw problems as they begin to grow and develop. An upper jaw that grows too much or is too narrow can be seen early on. Children over the age of six who have jaw discrepancy issues are great candidate for early orthodontic treatment. Also, children over the age of 8 who have crowded front teeth may also benefit from two-phase orthodontic treatment.
The Benefits of Early Planning
There are many benefits to early-phase treatment. Receiving treatment early on may prevent necessary tooth extraction later on. Orthodontic records will be able to help determine the ideal type of appliances to be used for your child, as well as how long treatment will take and how often your child will need to visit the office. Records will also contain models of the teeth, photographs, and X-rays. At the initial consultation, the orthodontist will keep these records to help evaluate if early treatment is necessary.
Resting Period
During the resting period, the permanent teeth are left alone to erupt. In most cases, retaining devices will not be recommended, because they may interfere with the teeth’s eruptions. If the first phase has been completed successfully, there will be room for the permanent teeth to effectively erupt. However, teeth will not be in their final positions at the end of the first phase. This will occur in the second phase of treatment. The resting period between the two phases will require period appointments for observation, usually every 6 months.
Phase Two
The second phase is designed to make sure that each tooth has a specific location within the mouth. This will allow the teeth to all function together perfectly. This phase typically uses full upper and lower braces. Retainers are typically worn at the end of this phase to keep the teeth in place.
Contact us today for a consultation at Bailey Orthodontics in Bountiful UT 801-614-7112.
