My Orthodontist in Toms River, NJ

When a child is experiencing an orthodontic issue that doesn’t seem to improve with age, orthodontists use a method that can correct it and prevent future problems called interceptive or two-phase orthodontic treatment. 

At My Orthodontist in Toms River, we want to share some information about the importance of early orthodontic treatment in children. Read on to understand the differences between phase I and II orthodontic care.

What is Two-Phase Orthodontics?

When your orthodontist in Toms River recommends two stages of treatment, we call the stages Phase I and II. Depending on your child’s teeth or bite, your orthodontist may recommend orthodontic appliances in two separate phases.

It is to prevent needing invasive treatment later on. There are cases where only one phase of orthodontic treatment is required to properly align teeth. Do not expect each child of the same age to have the same treatment plan. Each child and mouth is unique. 

An orthodontist can treat children as young as four for development problems. In fact, The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist by the early age seven.  

Phase I 

The goal of phase I treatment is to correct issues during the child’s growing stage, preventing more invasive treatment later. After eight, the jaw development in children starts to fuse.

Phase I orthodontics is for a patient with more baby teeth than adult teeth. Treatment could involve specialized orthodontic devices such as a palatal expander or partial braces on a few present adult teeth. 

For example, it’s best to intervene in an underbite early rather than wait until all the permanent teeth erupt. Successful Phase I treatment may prevent an underbite patient from needing oral surgery to correct the teeth and jaw. 

In addition, Phase I Orthodontics can correct harmful habits such as thumb-sucking and tongue-thrusting, which lead to protruding front teeth.

We all know that children can be critical of others who look or speak differently. Phase I Orthodontics can move teeth to help make a positive difference to your child’s appearance and self-esteem. Phase I can improve facial aesthetics and speech issues and increase your child’s self-confidence.

Phase II

Phase 2 orthodontics is simply treatment after Phase I has finished. In the second part, all the remaining permanent teeth are present and treated with traditional braces or Invisalign. This phase aims to build upon the earlier progress and obtain the optimal bite and straightest smile for the patient. 

Visit My Orthodontist in Toms River for a Beautiful Smile

At My Orthodontist in Toms River, NJ, we focus only on correcting overbites, underbites, crowding, crooked teeth, overlapping teeth, or other oral issues leading. We encourage you to contact us to schedule an appointment at our orthodontic office. We are happy to answer any questions about whether one or two-phase orthodontic treatment is best for your child.