First Phase Treatment, also known as early interceptive treatment, is orthodontic treatment that often includes expansion, active retainers, or partial braces. This is done around the ages of six to ten before all the permanent teeth have erupted.
When there is a more moderate to severe orthodontic issue in a child, a first phase of treatment is often recommended. This is because treatment should not wait until later due to the level of work needing to be done for correction.
First Phase Treatment is used to develop a child’s jaw to make room for future permanent teeth and to better align the upper and lower jaws. When the upper or lower jaw grow too much or not enough, First Phase Treatment is often recommended to help. With earlier correction; dental trauma, removal of permanent teeth down the road, and jaw surgery can be prevented. When severe conditions are left untreated until permanent teeth are in, a problem too severe for braces could arise.
First Phase Treatment lasts typically between 9-18 months. Then retainers are issued and checkups occur every four to six months while waiting for remaining permanent teeth to come in.
Once most or all the permanent teeth have erupted (usually around ages eleven to thirteen), Second Phase will most likely be recommended as the next step.
Benefits of First Phase Treatment:
- Allow the jaw to grow in a positive manner
- Improve the dental arches and their width
- Reduce and eliminate the need to remove permanent teeth
- Reduce or eliminate the need for later jaw surgery
- Improve the development of speech
- Improve lip competence
- Preserve space and gain room for erupting permanent teeth
- Encourage permanent teeth to grow into more favorable positions
- Allow first molars to come into position correctly
- Lower risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Correct any harmful habits: thumb sucking or tongue thrusting
- Shorten the time for more definitive orthodontic treatment
- Reduce risks of impacted permanent teeth
- Improve aesthetics and self-esteem
- Increase chances of a more stable final treatment result
To learn more about whether or not your child may need First Phase Treatment, contact Drs. Savage, Sabol & Visser and set up a free, initial consultation with our team.
