Phase I Orthodontic Treatment
What is Phase I orthodontic treatment and why is it used?
Phase I orthodontic treatment, also known as early interceptive treatment, is an initial phase of orthodontic care designed for young children, typically between the ages of 6 and 10. It focuses on addressing specific orthodontic issues early to guide the proper growth and development of the teeth, jaws, and facial structures. The child is typically in the mixed dentition while under going phase I treatment. This means the child has a mixture of both baby teeth and permanent teeth in their mouth.
Goals of Phase I Orthodontic Treatment:
1. Bite correction: problems like crossbites, open bites, underbites, or overbites should be addressed early because they can worsen over time as the child grows.
2. Space creation: a lack of space causes crowding and can lead to impaction of teeth because they do not have the space required for them to erupt. Creation of space is properly guiding the development of the jaws to help accommodate the teeth.
3. Eliminate oral habits: oral habits like digit sucking, thumb sucking, and tongue thrusting can affect the development of the jaws and therefore the alignment of the teeth. Eliminating any of these habits is essential in being able to retain the position of the teeth after completion of orthodontic treatment.
4. Prevention of more severe issues: Reduce the risk of needing future extractions to not having enough space, needing orthognathic surgery, or lengthy orthodontic treatment in adolescence.
5. Enhance appearance and self-esteem: Improving facial symmetry and smile aesthetics at an early age can give a boost in self esteem and in some cases prevent or reduce bullying as it relates to the persons teeth or smile.
Common Appliances used in Phase I:
1. Rapid Palatal Expanders (RPE) can be used to widen the upper jaw and create space needed to accommodate permanent teeth.
2. Tongue cribs can be used to eliminate oral habits.
3. Aligners can be used after the RPE has created space to close spaces and align the teeth.
4. Space maintainers or retainers can be used to hold the space created for permanent teeth and to maintain the teeth in their new location while we are waiting for all the permanent teeth to erupt.
5. Other functional appliances can be used to guide jaw growth.
After Phase I treatment is completed:
After Phase I treatment, children often enter a monitoring period to allow permanent teeth to fully erupt.
If further adjustments are needed after all permanent teeth have erupted, then Phase II, a second phase, may involve comprehensive aligners during their teenage years to finalize alignment and bite correction.
Phase I isn’t necessary for all children, and its necessity is typically determined through an orthodontic evaluation.
If your child is between the ages of 6 and 10 and they have not had an orthodontic evaluation, you can submit an appointment request online or call or text us at 713-436-8988 for an evaluation to determine if they are a candidate for phase I treatment. We look forward to hearing from you!