Treatment Questions

What is Phase I (Early or Interceptive Treatment) and Phase II treatment?

Phase I Treatment usually starts while your child still has many of their baby teeth and their permanent front incisors. This stage in development may begin around the age of seven to eight. The goal of Phase I treatment is to improve a moderate or severe orthodontic problem early in order to reduce or eliminate it. These problems include skeletal dysplasias, crossbites and moderate to severe crowding. Phase I treatment takes advantage of the early growth spurt and turns a difficult orthodontic problem into a more manageable one. This may help reduce the need for extractions and/or surgery. Phase I treatment may involve a variety of methods ranging from a single appliance to a more involved treatment with partial braces or headgear therapy. Not every child needs Phase I therapy, but most Phase I patients will require a Phase II treatment in order to achieve an ideal bite.

Phase II treatment usually occurs a few years after Phase I treatment after the majority of the permanent teeth to erupt. This most commonly occurs at the age of 11 or 12, but may vary depending on the patient's dental development. Phase II treatment involves the placement of full braces on all of the permanent teeth. The goal of Phase II treatment is to achieve an ideal occlusion and alignment with all of the permanent teeth.

What is Full or Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment?

Full or comprehensive orthodontic treatment is another name for orthodontic treatment of the permanent teeth at any age. This term is more commonly used when a Phase I treatment was not performed.

What is the length or duration of orthodontic treatment?

Most orthodontic treatments may last between 8 months to 30 months, or longer depending on the age of the patient, the severity of the problem, the patient's cooperation, and the degree of movement possible.

What are extraction and non-extraction therapy, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Several factors are thoroughly evaluated to determine whether extraction or non-extraction therapy is best suited for you or your child. Extraction therapy is a technique where some teeth are removed to make room for the other teeth in your mouth. This is in contrast to non-extraction therapy where the teeth are made to fit in the mouth through expansion of the jaws or flaring of the teeth, or sometimes slimming of some teeth to make everything fit.

What are the different types of braces?

Metal braces are the most popular with adolescents and teenagers. These braces are much smaller than ever before. There are many different and fun colors of ligature ties used on this type of braces.

Translucent or clear braces may be another option for individuals requiring more esthetic or less noticeable braces. You have to be quite close to someone to be able to see them. The material used for these braces may be more fragile, and are only slightly bulkier than the metal braces. For more difficult cases involving more tooth movement, treatment times may be slightly longer.

The Invisalign system is becoming a popular method of orthodontic treatment for adults who are candidates. It consists of a series of clear, removable orthodontic appliances called aligners that allow you to straighten your teeth without having to wear traditional braces. Each set of custom-made aligners is worn for about two weeks and moves the teeth in small steps to the desired final position. For more information about Invisalign, please give our office a call to make an appointment for a complimentary exam to see if you are a candidate.