Treatment for children and Teens
Early Preadolscent Treatment (Phase I)
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist around age 7. Although most children do not require early interceptive treatment (Phase I), it can prevent more serious conditions from developing as well as the need for costly and painful tooth extractions, jaw surgery, or dental trauma. In some cases, we will be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
- Correct and guide the growth and development of the jaws
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower jaws
- Create adequate space for future eruption of permanent teeth
- Correct thumb-sucking and other oral habits
When assessing the need for Phase 1 treatment, we only recommend treatment when there is a moderate to severe orthodontic problem that should not wait until later to be treated. We always look for the most conservative treatment options which may include partial braces, palate expanders, or space maintainers. Treatment duration is typically around a year or less.
Comprehensive Adolescent Treatment
Comprehensive treatment (Phase II) begins when most of the permanent teeth have erupted which is typically between the ages of 11 and 13. Those individuals that received Phase I treatment to correct severe problems often experience shorter and more simple Phase II treatment than they otherwise would have.
- Beautiful, natural looking smiles
- Properly aligned teeth in the upper and lower arches
- Teeth in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth
- Functional bite with upper teeth correctly meshing with lower teeth
During this phase, both upper and lower teeth are moved by using either braces or Invisalign® aligners, and treatment duration can range anywhere from one to two years depending on complexity. Retainers are worn after this phase to ensure that results are maintained.