Early Orthodontic Treatment
The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontic specialist by age 7. Early orthodontic treatment is usually for children between 6-11 years of age, before all the adult teeth have grown in. Also called Phase I treatment or Interceptive orthodontic treatment, early orthodontic treatment can help with a number of conditions.
Common conditions that Phase I treatment can help to address include:
There are usually three possible results from the initial checkup:
If your child does indeed have need for early treatment, early treatment may enable the orthodontist to prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing. The following are examples of what the orthodontist can accomplish with early treatment:
What to Expect
Common conditions that Phase I treatment can help to address include:
- Crowding (lack of sufficient space for permanent teeth to erupt)
- Crossbites (lower teeth biting outside of the upper teeth)
- Flared teeth due to a narrow upper jaw.
- Open bite due to a tongue or finger habit
There are usually three possible results from the initial checkup:
- No treatment is expected to be necessary.
- No treatment is advised at this time, but treatment may be needed in the future. A periodic follow up of the growth of the child is recommended as the face and jaws continue to grow.
- Your child would benefit from early treatment.
If your child does indeed have need for early treatment, early treatment may enable the orthodontist to prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing. The following are examples of what the orthodontist can accomplish with early treatment:
- Guide jaw growth
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
What to Expect
- Phase 1 with orthodontic appliances and/or limited braces can be as short as 6 months or last up to 18 months.
- Baby teeth can continue to fall out and permanent teeth can erupt during this process.
- At the conclusion of Phase 1 treatment, patients are expected wear retainers to preserve space for erupting adult teeth.
- Most children who receive early treatment will likely need additional orthodontic treatment at a later age after most or all of their adult teeth have emerged. This second round of treatment, also called Phase 2 treatment, is made relatively shorter and less complicated due to the benefits of the early treatment
