Very few children have perfectly straight teeth without the help of orthodontic treatment. Unfortunately, any wide gaps and overcrowding can lead to complications, like an uneven bite, lower self-esteem, and even unusual speaking patterns. The good news is that you don’t have to wait until all of your child’s permanent teeth emerge to schedule an appointment with an orthodontist. Keep reading to learn all about braces with baby teeth (also known as Phase 1 Orthodontics)!

What Is Phase 1 Orthodontics?

Essentially, Phase 1 Orthodontics is designed to help children as young as seven address common orthodontic problems, including overbites and overcrowding. Depending on their dental needs, appliances like space maintainers, headgear, retainers, and limited phase braces can be used. Plus, since the development of their jaw and the position of their teeth are much easier to influence, giving your child the healthy, happy smile they deserve can take as little as 9-12 months!

What Are the Benefits of Phase 1 Orthodontics?

Phase 1 Orthodontics comes with several benefits, such as:

• Preventing dental problems altogether, like impacted teeth
• Improving speaking patterns
• Boosting self-confidence
• Enhancing bite
• Stopping poor habits, like thumb-sucking

Who Is a Candidate for Phase 1 Orthodontics?

If your child is struggling with misaligned teeth, whether it’s slight spacing issues or severe overcrowding, they may be a candidate for Phase 1 Orthodontics. Generally, it’s recommended that you bring them in for an appointment with an orthodontist around age seven. From there, their orthodontist will conduct an oral exam, take the necessary X-rays, and determine whether they would benefit from Phase 1 Orthodontics or not. If it’s determined that moving forward with treatment is the best choice for your child’s bite, speech, and smile, then the next step will be solidifying the details of their treatment plan and scheduling their next appointment!

About the Practice

Our team at Simply Orthodontics feels truly honored to spend our days helping patients on their journey to healthier, happier smiles. In addition to offering traditional braces and Invisalign, we can help younger patients with Phase 1 Orthodontics. That way, we can enhance their bite, speech, and smile while simultaneously preventing other dental problems from developing. If you’re interested in finding out if Phase 1 Orthodontics is right for your child, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team via our website or by phone at (860) 774-2008.