Don’t Wait To Start Your Child’s Treatment!
Have you recently learned that your young child needs to visit an orthodontist and you are surprised by the request? If so, you are not alone. Many years ago, it was common for children to visit the orthodontist for the first time in their late adolescent or early teenage years. Over the past years, we have learned that early orthodontic treatment is not only beneficial for oral health and straightening the teeth, but it can actually save money. Interested in learning more? Continue reading to learn about the importance of early orthodontic treatment.
What is Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment?
If your young child has been recommended to our office, do not be alarmed. Their dentist may be concerned about the placement of their jaw. Many years ago, there was the thought process that orthodontic treatment happened during one phase from start to finish. Today, we have a different approach and now use the two-phase treatment. With this idea, we can minimize the length of time that children are in braces.
Phase One
During phase one of the treatment plan, we work on correcting the placement of the child’s jaw. We typically will evaluate children starting at the age of six or seven. During this phase, we improve the alignment of the jaws and create ample space for the adult teeth to move into place. At the first appointment, we will create a baseline of orthodontic records including X-rays, models of the teeth and photographs. We can then determine if treatment is needed and if so, which we recommend.
Following treatment, or if treatment is not needed for phase one, we will move into the supervision period where we let nature take its course. This is when we allow the adult teeth to come in naturally or intervene if necessary.
Phase Two
Once the jaw problems have been corrected and the adult teeth move into place, we will determine if phase two is needed. Phase two is the placement of braces, followed by a retainer when the treatment for braces is complete.
If you have a young child who has been recommended to be evaluated by an orthodontist, we are happy to help! Call our office located in Southfield, MI today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to meeting you and your family soon!