What is Phase 1 Orthodontic Treatment?
Early orthodontic treatment (also known as interceptive orthodontics) is used to diagnose and cure misaligned teeth and other orthodontic abnormalities in children as young as seven to eleven years of age.
As long as your child's baby teeth are mixed with their adult teeth, our Abbotsford dentists may take advantage of their continued growth and dental development while treating orthodontic disorders, allowing them to achieve the best possible results.
If orthodontic treatment is initiated early, it has the potential to shorten treatment duration and eliminate the need for tooth extractions in the future years.
What types of issues are treated with Phase 1 treatment?
Phase 1 orthodontics can correct several types of issues with early interceptive orthodontics, including:
- Misaligned teeth growing out of position
- Expansion of the upper jaw to eliminate a crossbite
- A misshapen jawbone (which is still soft and pliable at early ages)
- Protruding front teeth
- Expansion of one or both jaws to create space for overly crowded teeth
What are the goals of phase 1 treatment?
While the child's jaws are still developing, Phase 1 treatment can be used to correct misalignment and bite difficulties, as well as to make room for both the current teeth and the new teeth that will be coming in.
Examples of outcomes that can be obtained by early interceptive orthodontics include the following: :
- Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Creating room for crowded, erupting teeth
- Reducing treatment time
- Creating facial symmetry by influencing jaw growth
- Preserving space for teeth that have not yet erupted
It is possible that using this early orthodontic method will assist to improve the look of a developing child's smile while also making Phase 2 treatment easier and shorter.