Every parent wants what’s best for their child, and ensuring they visit an orthodontist by age 7 is an essential step toward giving them the healthy smile they deserve. An early appointment with Dr. Razi helps our team track their development and decide whether they’re a candidate for early intervention. If you’re wondering if and why your child should have Two-Phase orthodontic treatment, look no further. Here’s everything you need to know about Two-Phase treatment, why it works, and who needs it.
What Is Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment?
Two-phase orthodontics is an early intervention method that allows Dr. Razi to catch potential orthodontic issues early in a child’s life, so they don’t become bigger problems later. Not every child requires two-phase treatment, but for those who do, here’s what to expect.
Phase I Treatment
At Razi Orthodontics, we believe in using a proactive and preventative approach for young patients. We recommend that your child have an orthodontic evaluation at the age of 7. Starting at this age, we can identify concerns in the development of the teeth and jaws. Dr. Razi will determine if your child needs any early treatment at their initial consultation. If treatment is not indicated, we will continue to monitor the growth and development of your child’s teeth and jaws, which is a completely complimentary service!
For those children who require it, Phase I treatment can provide significant benefits, like:
- Creating space for incoming permanent teeth
- Preventing removal of permanent teeth
- Correcting harmful oral habits, such as thumb-sucking
- Redirecting and guiding jaw growth
- Improving self-esteem and confidence
If your child requires Phase I treatment, our Razi Orthodontics team will design a unique treatment plan tailor-made to fit their needs.
Treatment options may include an expander and braces. Most patients undergo Phase I treatment for six to twelve months. However, this timeline varies from patient to patient, depending on their unique needs.
One unique aspect of our Phase I treatment at Razi Orthodontics is that kids do not have to worry about wearing retainers after their treatment is completed! Not only do our kids love this, but this process is more beneficial to their smiles at this stage. We do not want to restrict the natural eruption process, where the underlying permanent teeth bump and bounce off other permanent teeth as they erupt into the mouth. Wearing retainers can disrupt this process and cause potential damage to permanent teeth, so we prevent this altogether.
Observation Phase
After Phase I treatment is complete, your child will enter an observation phase. During this time, they will meet with Dr. Razi every six to twelve months so that our team can monitor their progress and determine when Phase II treatment will be needed.
Phase II Treatment
All children that go through Phase I treatment with us will require Phase II treatment for the best results. Phase II treatment looks much more like the traditional treatment you see during the teenage years. Typically, Dr. Razi applies braces to the top and bottom teeth. However, clear aligners may also be an option for your child’s Phase II treatment plan. This process aligns all of their permanent teeth, corrects their bite, and gives them a beautiful smile that will last a lifetime.
Why Should Your Child Have Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment?
The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that a child see an orthodontist no later than age seven. The younger your child meets with Dr. Razi, the sooner our team can begin working on a treatment plan that ensures your child has a healthy set of teeth.
When you bring your child in for their first appointment at age seven, the Razi Orthodontics team may recommend beginning two-phase treatment. This process is successful because it uses the natural growth of a child’s jaw to facilitate treatment. In other words, because we begin two-phase treatment when a child is seven, we can guide the natural growth of your child’s teeth into a straight smile.
Only about ten percent of children have conditions severe enough to require two-phase treatment. However, early intervention can cut the risk of future conditions as well as the overall cost of treating them.
Who Qualifies for This Treatment?
Once you bring your child in at age seven, we can begin to track their development and determine whether two-phase treatment is necessary. The most common reasons Dr. Razi recommends Phase I treatment are severe crossbites, underbites, and crowding, among other conditions.
Overbite
When your child has an overbite, their upper teeth significantly protrude over their lower teeth. Slight overbites are incredibly common, but a more dramatic case can be detrimental to the teeth and the health of your child’s jaw joints. It can also impact the shape of the patient’s face, producing a “weak” chin and sunken appearance.
Crossbites
With a crossbite, some of the upper teeth are behind the lower instead of in front of them. This puts pressure on the teeth and makes them more vulnerable to chipping, which can cause significant pain. Two-phase treatment can alleviate the risk of chipping and help your child feel better.
Crowding
Dental crowding occurs when there is insufficient space in the mouth for all permanent teeth to fit. Crowding can cause misaligned or crooked teeth that can lead to a wide range of other orthodontic problems in the future.
Smile Big at Razi Orthodontics!
Determining whether Two-Phase orthodontic treatment is right for your child requires the attention of an orthodontic specialist like Dr. Razi. With years of training and experience, Dr. Razi has transformed thousands of smiles in Wheaton, so you can rest assured that you’re in the right hands. Schedule your child’s first free consultation to find out if Two-Phase treatment is right for them today!