A Proactive Approach to Children's Orthodontic Care
As your child grows and develops, orthodontic issues may be developing with them. Children should be taken to the orthodontist for an evaluation around the age of seven so that any potential problems can be identified and treated.
Early (Phase 1) orthodontics involves guiding proper jaw development to reduce the need for more extensive orthodontic treatment later in life. Rather than waiting until the teeth and jaws are fully developed, we can start treatment early and guide your child's development so that they grow up with a straighter smile.
Early intervention can also address many of the oral problems that are common in children as they grow up, such as speech and eating issues, snoring, teeth grinding, and thumb sucking.
At Woodstock Orthodontics, we offer jaw growth guidance with palate expanders and braces for our young patients.
Complimentary Consultations for Children
A consultation with an orthodontist is the best way to address any concerns you or your general dentist may have about your child's orthodontic health. Bring your child in to Woodstock Orthodontics for a free initial orthodontic evaluation.
Early intervention, also known as Phase 1 orthodontic treatment, is for children between the ages of seven and 11 who are developing problems with their teeth, bite, or airway.
Phase 1 can include a variety of orthodontic treatments. The most common are palatal expansion, braces and treatment for airway issues.
When working with you and your child, our team will develop a customized treatment plan where Phases 1 and 2 are mapped out in advance. This will help ensure your child's orthodontic care is as efficient, effective, and minimally invasive as possible.
Phase 1 also includes:
- Planning for the next phase
Phase 1 treatment is done in preparation for Phase 2. The goal of early orthodontic treatment is to prevent or minimize the need for invasive procedures in Phase 2, such as tooth extraction or jaw surgery.
- Records to inform treatment
During your child's Phase 1 treatment, we'll keep ample records for reference in Phase 2. These records will note things like the type of appliances used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits. Records also include models of the teeth, X-rays, and photographs.
- A resting period
After your child has finished the first phase of their orthodontic treatment, their mouth will be generally left alone until their adult teeth have finished coming in.
Even if your child has undergone orthodontic treatment, retainers may not be recommended as they may restrict the permanent teeth as they try to come in. It's best to give the adult teeth some wiggle room.
A successful first phase will have created room for permanent teeth to find an eruption path.
- Monitoring tooth progress
At the end of the first phase of treatment, teeth are not in their final positions. This will be accomplished during your child's Phase 2 orthodontic treatment.
Certain baby teeth may need to be removed during the resting phase to make room for the permanent teeth. As a result, your child should come back to our clinic for checkups periodically between the two phases of treatment.
Phase 2 is designed to pick up where Phase 1 left off. Once all of your child's permanent teeth have come in, the remaining adjustments will be made to their smile and bites with either braces or clear aligners.
Phase 2 orthodontic treatment is usually less intense if your child has undergone Phase 1 treatment. For those who skipped Phase 1, a more complex treatment plan may be needed.
Think of it as fine-tuning your teen's smile after all the groundwork was laid in Phase 1. Phase 2 treatment is also typically shorter than Phase 1 (six to 12 months).
- Continuing on the path to a healthy smile
The goal of the second phase is to ensure that each tooth is positioned in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth to create the best smile possible.
- Phase 2 braces or aligner treatment
- Maintenance and retainers
Once Phase 2 treatment comes to an end, retainers will be created for your child to keep their teeth in place. This will be worn on a long-term basis to ensure the teeth do not shift out of place as the jawbone heals around the new position of the tooth roots.
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Phase 1 (Ages 7 - 11)
Early intervention, also known as Phase 1 orthodontic treatment, is for children between the ages of seven and 11 who are developing problems with their teeth, bite, or airway.
Phase 1 can include a variety of orthodontic treatments. The most common are palatal expansion, braces and treatment for airway issues.
When working with you and your child, our team will develop a customized treatment plan where Phases 1 and 2 are mapped out in advance. This will help ensure your child's orthodontic care is as efficient, effective, and minimally invasive as possible.
Phase 1 also includes:
- Planning for the next phase
Phase 1 treatment is done in preparation for Phase 2. The goal of early orthodontic treatment is to prevent or minimize the need for invasive procedures in Phase 2, such as tooth extraction or jaw surgery.
- Records to inform treatment
During your child's Phase 1 treatment, we'll keep ample records for reference in Phase 2. These records will note things like the type of appliances used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits. Records also include models of the teeth, X-rays, and photographs.
- A resting period
After your child has finished the first phase of their orthodontic treatment, their mouth will be generally left alone until their adult teeth have finished coming in.
Even if your child has undergone orthodontic treatment, retainers may not be recommended as they may restrict the permanent teeth as they try to come in. It's best to give the adult teeth some wiggle room.
A successful first phase will have created room for permanent teeth to find an eruption path.
- Monitoring tooth progress
At the end of the first phase of treatment, teeth are not in their final positions. This will be accomplished during your child's Phase 2 orthodontic treatment.
Certain baby teeth may need to be removed during the resting phase to make room for the permanent teeth. As a result, your child should come back to our clinic for checkups periodically between the two phases of treatment.
- Planning for the next phase
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Phase 2 (Ages 12 - 18)
Phase 2 is designed to pick up where Phase 1 left off. Once all of your child's permanent teeth have come in, the remaining adjustments will be made to their smile and bites with either braces or clear aligners.
Phase 2 orthodontic treatment is usually less intense if your child has undergone Phase 1 treatment. For those who skipped Phase 1, a more complex treatment plan may be needed.
Think of it as fine-tuning your teen's smile after all the groundwork was laid in Phase 1. Phase 2 treatment is also typically shorter than Phase 1 (six to 12 months).
- Continuing on the path to a healthy smile
The goal of the second phase is to ensure that each tooth is positioned in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth to create the best smile possible.
- Phase 2 braces or aligner treatment
- Maintenance and retainers
Once Phase 2 treatment comes to an end, retainers will be created for your child to keep their teeth in place. This will be worn on a long-term basis to ensure the teeth do not shift out of place as the jawbone heals around the new position of the tooth roots.
- Continuing on the path to a healthy smile
Early Orthodontic Treatments for Kids
These are a few of the most common orthodontic treatment options for kids at Woodstock Orthodontics:
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