Two-phase treatment is an orthodontic treatment method in which the process consists of 2 phases or two separate times when a patient receives orthodontic treatment – i.e., once as a child with their primary teeth and a second time once their permanent teeth grow out. Here’s all you need to know about two-phase treatment
What’s the best time to start two-phase treatment?
Even though you can get orthodontic treatment at any stage in your life but the earlier it is the better results you can achieve. That’s why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends the age of 7 for a child to receive their first orthodontic evaluation. This is the age when an average kid gets their full set of primary or “baby” teeth. It isn’t necessary to start any treatment at that age, it is just good for an evaluation.
What are the benefits of early orthodontic evaluation?
Because a good orthodontic can fix most of the issues at any stage of your life, people ignore early evaluations. It is a common mistake to wait until the issue grows painfully unignorable. People assume most of the dental issues will be gone on their own once a kid’s permanent set grows out. This thought overshadows the importance of early evaluation. The fact is, early orthodontic evaluations prevent many issues before they even develop. So, you won’t even have to go through all the trouble and spend all the money on something which can be prevented easily.
Moreover, our Junior Varsity Team at Macomb Orthodontics is dedicated to our young patients who aren’t yet ready for the treatment. This way our young patients are on the road to their oral goals even when they are not in active treatment!
Why is age 7 the ideal time for early evaluation?
We recommend first evaluations at the age of 7 because, by this time, a child’s first adult molars start to erupt. These molars establish a person’s backbite and help orthodontists evaluate front-to-back and side-to-side teeth relationship. For example, if there are erupting incisors, this indicates chances of open bite, overbite, gummy smiles, or crowding. Early evaluations can prevent all this and increase your chances of getting the perfect smile.
What is Phase-One Treatment?
Phase-One or interceptive treatment is initiated (if necessary) between the ages of 7 to 10. It can last about 12 to 18 months or less. The primary goal of Phase-One treatment is to identify and stop significant problems before they grow into something more severe. By nipping the problem in the bud, we help our young patients improve their dental health and self-esteem.
If patients require two phases of treatment, it becomes rather complicated if not entirely impossible to achieve the ideal results without going through interceptive treatment first. Once all the permanent teeth have erupted, the case becomes a little difficult. Dr. Bieszki only goes for two phases of treatment if the case absolutely demands it.
What are the advantages of Phase-One treatment?
Interceptive or Phase-One treatment has many advantages. Some of them include:
- More positive results for facial symmetry by influencing jaw growth
- Avoiding teeth crowding by creating room for erupting teeth
- Lesser trauma risk to protruding front teeth
- Avoiding teeth removal later in life
- Improving self-esteem
- Lesser time for braces treatment
Is Phase-One treatment necessary for everyone?
No. Only certain cases with bite correction or eruption issues require early orthodontic treatment. Some of the most serious issues which require early attention are underbites and narrow arch forms. At Macomb Orthodontics, we believe in assessing each individual’s requirements to determine the best treatment options for their needs.
Can we start treatment while a child has their baby teeth?
Yes. Some orthodontic urgencies require immediate action if they are severe enough. However, we understand the anxiety when it comes to younger patients, that’s why we offer an alternative route where we keep a track of a patient’s developmental growth until they are ready for their treatment or until it can no longer be delayed. Meantime, we follow up to make sure it doesn’t lead to anything much more severe.
What is Rest Phase?
When a patient goes through their course of Phase-One treatment, it is recommended to go through a rest phase. Dr. Bieszki prescribes wearing night-time retainers during the rest phase to maintain results from your Phase-One treatment.
We keep a timely follow-up on the teeth development of the patient by scheduling appointments every six months. This helps us evaluate your child’s facial and dental growth before we move to Phase Two treatment.
What is Phase-Two treatment?
Phase-Two treatment starts after the complete growth of your child’s permanent teeth. This is the final stage of the treatment which involves active tooth movement and bite correction. It usually requires braces to guide all adult teeth of a patient into their ideal position. This is when we focus on aesthetics, stability, and functioning of final tooth placements.
Will my child need Phase-Two treatment after going through Phase-One treatment?
Even though Dr. Bieszki monitors your child’s dental development throughout the rest phase and informs you about the future treatment requirements as we go through the process, is it best to assume that your child will have to wear full braces after Phase-One treatment.
This practice is used to make sure your child receives the best results with overall harmonizing of their smile with their face structure.
