Phase I Interceptive Treatment

Early treatment – Purpose and Possibilities

We carefully select patients who we feel could successfully cooperate with and benefit from early Orthodontic treatment. We usually consider preventative (early) treatment, between the ages of
8 and 10, to accomplish the goals outlined below.

1. To develop both the upper or lower jaw sufficiently early to accommodate all the permanent teeth, often by widening the arches and developing the arch length.
2. To correctly relate the upper and lower jaws to each other (correct crossbites, underbites, etc…) to encourage proper facial development, jaw growth and allow for a proper functional relationship with the teeth.

A child with an upper or lower jaw that is growing too much or not enough, or is too narrow can be recognized at an early age. Children who have these jaw discrepancies are usually candidates for early orthodontic evaluation and treatment (usually between 8 and 10 years of age).

Because children are growing rapidly, they can benefit tremendously from an early (interceptive) phase of orthodontic care. Orthodontic appliances can be used to correct the jaw shape and direct the growth towards an ideal relationship between the upper and lower jaws. Early treatment can prevent the following:

1. Later removal of permanent teeth to correct overcrowding.
2. Surgical procedures to align upper and lower jaws.

Early (Interceptive) treatment may also shorten the time necessary for the second phase of treatment. Leaving a malocclusion until all the permanent teeth erupt could result in jaw discrepancies too severe to achieve an ideal result with braces alone.

Observation Period and Second Phase Treatment

Following the Phase I correction, the permanent teeth are allowed to erupt. Oftentimes retainers may be used, usually for a short period as they may interfere with the eruption of the adult teeth. Our goals are to hold the arch development achieved during Phase I and allow the rest of the adult teeth to have room to erupt. It is important to understand that at the end of the first phase of care, teeth are not in their final positions. This will be determined and accomplished in the second phase of treatment.
Once the permanent teeth have replaced the baby teeth, we often find the need for final correction and detailing of the bite (put the teeth into the best positions for long-term, stable dental health). The normal two years in braces is often reduced due to early Phase I treatment.
Remember, the reason for choosing a Phase I early treatment is because when started at a young age, and with the right patient, the best possible results can be achieved, and in general, no permanent teeth need to be removed.

A Note About Fees

The success of Phase I care hinges on long-term patient cooperation as well as jaw growth, genetics and dental development. For your benefit we have a two-fee arrangement; one for Phase I and a second for Phase II final detailing based on the difficulty of the case. Our Phase I fees are very predictable and are given to you at the start of treatment. The fee for the second phase varies widely based on individual patient needs and will be discussed if a second phase of treatment is necessary at a later age. I hope this helps to answer any questions you may have. This care provides your child benefits that can last a lifetime! We look forward to working with you on the journey to a beautiful, healthy smile.