Phase 1 Treatment

What is Phase I Orthodontic Treatment & What Can it Accomplish?

Phase I treatment is used to create an optimal environment for permanent teeth to erupt. In the past we waited until all of the permanent teeth had erupted and THEN we started treatment. We let the baby teeth fall out and used headgears to create space. We did not use space maintainers to their full extent and took out permanent teeth up to 50% of the time.

Today, we know that children ages 6-11 can benefit in many ways from interceptive treatment referred to as Phase I. Instead of reacting to a problem. . . we PREVENT a bigger problem.

Phase I may involve maintaining arch length using space maintainers. Your pediatric dentist and/or orthodontist may suggest creating space with arch expansion, distalizing molars & cuspids and even intercepting aberrant growth patterns. Early intervention allows us to do LESS invasive treatment & take out fewer teeth.