Two-Phase Treatment
What is the advantage of two-phase
orthodontic treatment?
Two-phase orthodontic treatment is a specialized process that combines tooth
straightening and physical, facial changes. The purpose of two-phase treatment is to
maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, and aesthetic
result that will remain stable throughout your child's life.
What if treatment is put off?
Putting off treatment can result in a need for more invasive
treatment later in life
that may not completely fix your child's smile. Early treatment is most effective
for
achieving lasting results.
Phase One
A Foundation for a Lifetime
of Beautiful Smiles
The goal of Phase One treatment is to help the jaw develop in a
way
that will accommodate all of the permanent teeth and improve the way the upper and
lower
jaws fit together. Children often exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow
and
develop. An upper jaw that is growing too much or is too narrow can be recognized at
an
early age. If children over the age of six are found to have this jaw discrepancy,
they
are candidates for early orthodontic treatment. Also, if children around the age of
eight have crowded front teeth, early treatment can prevent the need to extract
permanent teeth later.
- Planning now can save your child's smile later
- Children benefit tremendously from early-phase treatment. Receiving early treatment may prevent the removal of permanent teeth later in life, or the need for surgical procedures to realign the jaws.
- Making records to determine your child's unique treatment
- Orthodontic records will be necessary to determine the type of appliances to be used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits. Records consist of models of the teeth, X-rays, and photographs. During your child's initial consultation, the doctor will take records to determine if early treatment is necessary.
Resting Period
In this phase, the remaining permanent teeth are left alone as they erupt. Retaining devices may not be recommended if they would interfere with eruption. It is best to allow the existing permanent teeth some freedom of movement. A successful first phase will have created room for permanent teeth to find an eruption path. Otherwise, they may become impacted or severely displaced.
- Monitoring the teeth's progress
- At the end of the first phase of treatment, teeth are not in their final positions. This will be determined and accomplished in the second phase of treatment. Selective removal of certain primary (baby) teeth may be in the best interest of enhancing eruption during this resting phase. Therefore, periodic recall appointments for observation are necessary, usually on a six-month basis.
Phase Two
Stay healthy and look
attractive
The goal of the second phase is to make sure each tooth has an
exact
location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and
other
teeth. When this equilibrium is established, the teeth will function together
properly.
Phase Two usually involves full upper and lower braces.
At the beginning of the first phase, orthodontic records were made and a diagnosis
and
treatment plan was established. Certain types of appliances were used in the first
phase
to correct and realign the teeth and jaw. The second phase begins when all permanent
teeth have erupted, and usually requires braces on all the teeth for an average of
24
months. Retainers are worn after this phase to ensure your child retains his or her
beautiful smile.