Phase I
 Phase
I or Interceptive Treatment usually starts while the
child has most of their baby teeth and a few of their
permanent front incisors, and usually occurs at about
the age of seven to eight years old. Children sometimes
exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and
develop. The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept
a moderate or severe orthodontic problem in an effort
to reduce or eliminate it. These problems include skeletal
dysplasias, crossbites and severe crowding.
An upper or lower jaw that is growing too much or not
enough can benefit from early orthodontic treatment.
Many times, the early correction can prevent later removal
of permanent teeth due to excessive overbite or overcrowding.
Leaving such a condition untreated until all permanent
teeth erupt could result in a jaw imbalance too severe
to achieve an ideal result with braces. However, it
should be noted that undergoing Phase I therapy does
not eliminate the need for a second phase of treatment
once all the permanent teeth have erupted. Instead,
it increases the likelihood that optimal esthetic and
functional results will be achieved in the second stage.
Resting Period
Between phases retainers are worn at night to maintain
the First Phase Treatment results and to allow the remaining
permanent teeth to erupt. Starting at age ten, children
begin to lose their remaining primary (“baby”)
teeth; and by age twelve or thirteen, they’ve
gained sixteen permanent teeth. During this period occasional
appointments for observation and retainer adjustments
will be necessary, usually on a three to six month basis.
Phase II
The goal of the Second Phase Treatment is to position
all the permanent teeth to maximize their appearance
and function. This is best accomplished by placing braces
on all the upper and lower teeth.
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