Orthodontic treatment can be completed in two phases, also known as “early treatment” or “two-phase treatment”. This is suggested for a child who has orthodontic problems but may not have all of their permanent teeth. Two-phase treatment means that treatment is done at two separate stages. The reason behind this is to help take advantage of the predictable stages of dental development and physical growth of your child. At Unionville Orthodontics we’ve put together some information to help parents understand more about two-phase orthodontic treatment and it’s benefits.
Two-phase treatment is not required for all children. However, many orthodontic problems can be detected early on and treated in one stage of comprehensive treatment. However, there are exceptions to this!
Two-phase orthodontic treatment is used to help a child’s jaws develop adequate space for their permanent teeth to come in. This can help reduce the need to extract adult teeth down the road. It can also help avoid complicated corrective surgeries, as the problem can be fixed during the growth stage.
Two-phase treatment can help change the relationship between the upper jaw to the lower jaw. It is also helpful to break habits of prolonged thumb sucking or abnormal swallowing.
Phase one can start when a child still has some of their baby teeth. This phase can involve the use of braces, or a fixed or removable appliance – depending on the needs of the patient. After phase one is complete, a resting period is introduced.
Phase two would usually start when all or nearly all of the permanent teeth have come in. The goal of this phase is to orthodontically move the teeth into an ideal place for good function, a healthy bite and a good aesthetic appearance. This phase is usually completed with braces.
At Unionville Orthodontics, we are here to help your child have a healthy and beautiful smile! Remember the CAO recommends a child’s first orthodontic check-up no later than age 7. Let’s get ahead of any problems early! Contact us for your orthodontic needs in Markham today.
-The Unionville Orthodontics Team
