Completely personalized treatments for you!

What is Phase 1 Treatment?

Orthodontics for Children

The best age to screen children for orthodontic issues is at the age of 7 when children have mixed dentition (a mix of baby and permanent teeth). Orthodontic treatment that takes place at this time is called Phase 1 treatment. The goal of phase one treatment is to guide your child’s growth to encourage the best-looking and functioning smile later in life. Typically, Phase 1 treatment is followed up with Phase 2 treatment but the treatment is less invasive and shorter than when Phase 1 treatment is not performed.

Phase 1 treatment is not for everyone, these are the situations in which it is appropriate:

  • Ensure that there is an appropriate amount of space for adult teeth to erupt correctly.
  • Encourage symmetrical jaw growth
  • Child’s self-esteem is being negatively affected by an orthodontic condition
  • Bad habits such as thumb-sucking is hindering the correct development of teeth and jaws

During the orthodontic screenings, it is common to find children who do not need phase 1 treatment because their jaws and teeth are developing correctly. For this group of children, we will schedule a check-up appointment every six months to carefully monitor the status of their growth and development. These check-ups are provided at no cost to you and will allow us to continue to screen your child and identify any issues early on.

At White Rock Orthodontics, we believe in treating children early only when it’s necessary. We try to make every patient’s experience at our office should be something they look forward to. When Phase 1 treatment is necessary, we try our best to limit the intervention to one year of treatment. We also reward our young patients with a membership to the Early Smiles Club to keep their experience with White Rock Orthodontics fun and exciting!

What are some of the advantages of phase 1 treatment?

  • Encourage the development of a healthy bite relationship by guiding jaw growth and proper tooth alignment
  • Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
  • Create the necessary space to accommodate crowded teeth
  • Reduce the possibility of permanent tooth extractions in the future
  • Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems

The signs that a child needs orthodontic treatment may not always be obvious to parents.

What signs should I look for to indicate that my child needs to see an orthodontist?

The following conditions are indicators that your child needs to be evaluated by an orthodontist.

  • Early or late loss of baby teeth
  • Difficulty chewing or biting food
  • Breathing through the mouth
  • Finger or thumb sucking
  • Teeth that are crowded, blocked, or misshapen
  • Any sounds made when their jaws open or close
  • Teeth that do not come together or come together atypically
  • Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
  • Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight

Contact us today to schedule your complimentary orthodontic evaluation! At White Rock Orthodontics, we will only recommend early treatment when it is necessary to give your child the best smile!

Early Smiles Club

Early Smiles Club badge featuring Rocky the Orthosaurus

At White Rock Orthodontics, we are proud to offer our young patients a complimentary membership to the Early Smiles Club! Membership in this fun club allows our young patients to enjoy their orthodontic experience and look forward to their orthodontic treatment.

Learn more

The mouths of teens are similar to those of adults in the sense that both groups have all of their permanent teeth. However, there is one main difference: the jaws of teens are still developing while this stage has already concluded in our adult patients. For this reason, we recommend beginning treatment during the “teen years”. However, orthodontic treatment is safe, comfortable, and effective at any age. We offer a broad selection of treatment options including braces and aligners.

Orthodontic treatment is not reserved just for teens. Any adult in general good health can choose to receive orthodontic treatment and many adults are choosing to take advantage of this opportunity! Currently, one in every five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21. Adults seek orthodontic treatment because they understand the impact that unhealthy or unattractive teeth can have on their health and social life. More and more adults are taking this opportunity for oral care, don’t wait any longer, and schedule your complimentary consultation.

Popular reasons why adults seek orthodontic treatment:

  • A bad bite or malocclusion, teeth do not fit together properly
  • TMJ pain and headaches
  • Crowded or spaced teeth
  • Desire to improve oral health and build a more confident smile