1-Phase vs 2-Phase Treatment

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.

Many times early correction of these problems can prevent the future removal of permanent teeth due to excessive overbite or overcrowding. Leaving such a condition untreated until all the 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.