What You Need to Know About Phase I Treatment for Your Kiddo
- May 20, 2019
- 2 min read
- Kiddo
We sometimes hear, “why does my child need to go through two rounds of orthodontic treatment if they can just get braces when they’re a teen?” Phase One is a term used to describe orthodontic treatment for children 7-10 years old. “The goal of Phase One treatment is to help your kiddo’s mouth grow in harmony with the rest of their face,” says Dr. Arruda. If your child is recommended Phase One treatment at their consultation or in the future, they’ll automatically become a member of our Kids Club!
We want to help move that growth along so it’ll be easier down the road when we’re correcting less serious malocclusions. Here are some examples of what we look for:
- Open bites
- Deep bites
- Cross bites
- Overjet
- Crowding
- Spacing
- Teeth that aren’t emerging correctly
- Missing teeth
“We use a variety of orthodontic appliances like a rapid palatal expanders or tongue spurs to correct the bad habits or imbalances that cause these malocclusions,” Dr. Arruda says. Once these bad habits are corrected, the child will then be monitored as they grow into their teen years. Depending on the case, Phase Two treatment may or may not be necessary. Essentially, Phase Two treatment helps put the finishing touches on Phase One work and addresses any bite issues that could not be corrected during Phase One. If Dr. Arruda recommends Phase Two treatment, she’ll focus on continuing to guide permanent teeth into their ideal positions, optimize facial appearance, and correct any remaining bite issues.
Phase Two treatment typically starts at age 12 or 13. If your child is 10 or 11, Dr. Arruda’s treatment recommendation will depend on many factors. The most proactive thing you can do is to bring your kiddo in for a complimentary consultation, and Dr. Arruda can discuss the best route for your child.
