All You Need to Know About Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment
If your child has misaligned teeth at an early age, orthodontic corrective work may required to set up their beautiful and healthy future smile. Your dentist will need to examine the extent of the teeth misalignment to determine which treatment would best fit your child's dental needs. In many cases, a two-phase orthodontic treatment may be needed to create the conditions needed for straight teeth and a flawless smile.
This article looks to answer questions you may have when considering two-phase orthodontics so you can determine whether this arrangement suits your child.
What happens in the first phase?
Phase-one orthodontic treatment often occurs early on when your child still has their baby teeth. The treatment is primarily meant to correct bite issues and create enough space for the eruption of the underlying adult teeth.
Your dentist will likely monitor and control how your child's jaw and teeth develop from an early age and pull out some crowded baby teeth to correct an overbite or create space on the jaw for adult teeth. This helps to improve the chances of your child's adult teeth erupting into the right places and reduces chances of a poor bite.
The dentist will also monitor the eruption of the adult teeth during this phase and surgically remove any stubborn baby teeth that won't give way to the underlying teeth.
What happens in the second phase?
The second phase typically finalizes the action that was started in phase one. The treatment entails the use of braces on the top and bottom row of teeth to help guide the emerging adult teeth into their correct spaces and help ensure that the teeth come in as easily and as straight as possible.
Treatment usually varies depending on the needs of each child, but it will generally last for a minimum of two years. During this period, you will often need to take your child for regular dental checkups during which their braces will be examined for signs of damage and adjusted so they form a snug fit around the teeth.
The result is usually a straight smile and a properly developed jaw that has been crafted from your child's early years. After the braces are removed, your dentist may recommend the use of a retainer to help keep teeth in their rightful position.
Two-phase treatment can help increase the chances of positive results from orthodontic corrective work. Children with protruding teeth, complex bite issues, or crooked teeth at an early age are generally more likely to require this type of extensive orthodontic treatment.
Talk to a company such as Rosenzweig Orthodontics for more information.
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