Two-Phase Treatment
You may have heard of different “phases” of treatment in orthodontics when it comes to treating children. As children grow, orthodontists have the ability to harness that growth potential to correct problems with tooth position and the fit of the bite. There are various opinions in the orthodontic community as to whether one phase of treatment at age 7-10 will help reduce treatment time when comprehensive orthodontic treatment is pursued after all the baby teeth have been lost.
Scientific studies (including one major study performed at the University of Florida) have shown that for most cases, one single phase of treatment in adolescence is just as effective as splitting treatment into two phases. This way, the overall cost of orthodontic treatment is reduced and our patients are in treatment for less overall time.
In our office, we find that only 10-15% of children who we see at an early age actually need any kind of early/interceptive treatment. These are children where there is a tooth that is in a traumatic position, where the upper teeth are at risk of trauma, or a severely restricted growth pattern that requires intervention. We are confident in our conservative approach and feel that we can benefit our patients and their families in reducing treatment time and cost by treating most cases in just one phase.
More Information
If you’re looking for more information or ready to begin talking about orthodontic treatment, please contact us today. You can start by requesting an appointment online, or feel free to call our nearest office:
- Conway Location: (407) 658-0280
- Lake Nona Location: (407) 418-0500