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A Proactive Approach To Children's Orthodontic Care
As your child grows and develops, orthodontic issues could be developing too. Children should attend their first orthodontic assessment around the age of seven so that issues can be identified and treated.
Early (Phase 1) orthodontics involves guiding proper jaw development to reduce the need for more extensive orthodontic treatment later in life. Rather than waiting until the teeth and jaws are fully developed and set in place, we can commence treatment early and work with your child's development for a straighter smile.
It can also help address many of the common oral problems that children face as they grow up – including speech and eating issues, snoring, teeth grinding, thumb sucking, and more.
At Orthodontic Specialists of Lake Oswego, we offer jaw growth guidance with palatal expanders, as well as Invisalign First clear aligners and traditional braces for our young patients.
Complimentary Initial Consultations
If you or your general dentist have concerns about your child's orthodontic health, it's time to book an orthodontic assessment. Contact Orthodontic Specialists of Lake Oswego today to schedule a free orthodontic assessment for your child.
Early intervention, also called Phase 1 orthodontic treatment, is for children between the ages of seven and 11 who have developing bite, misalignment, or airway issues.
Phase 1 can include a variety of orthodontic treatments. The most common are palatal expansion, braces, and Invisalign First.
Your child's orthodontist will develop a customized treatment plan mapping out Phases 1 and 2 in advance, to ensure that their orthodontic care is as minimally invasive and effective as possible.
Phase 1orthodontic treatment also includes:
- Preparing for the next phase
Phase 1 treatment plays a key role in preparing for Phase 2. Early orthodontic treatment plans are designed to minimize the need for more invasive or extensive treatment later on in life, such as the removal of permanent teeth, or surgical procedures to realign the jaw.
- Records to inform treatment
During your child's Phase 1 treatment, we'll keep detailed records for reference in Phase 2. These records will note important points such as the type of appliances used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits. Records consist of models of the teeth, X-rays, and photographs.
- A resting period
Following the completion of your child's first phase of orthodontic treatment, the permanent teeth are left to follow their natural eruption path.
Retaining devices may not be recommended if they would interfere with this process. It is best to allow the existing permanent teeth some freedom of movement.
Successful first phase treatment creates room for permanent teeth to come in – preventing them from becoming impacted or severely displaced.
- Monitoring tooth progress
At the end of the first phase of treatment, teeth are not in their final positions. This will be accomplished during your child's Phase 2 orthodontic treatment.
Selective removal of certain primary (baby) teeth may be in the best interest of enhancing eruption during this resting phase. Therefore, periodic recall appointments for observation are necessary, usually on a six-month basis.
Phase 2 picks up where Phase 1 left off, once all the permanent teeth have erupted. At this point, the finer details of the smile and bite will be addressed with either braces or Invisalign Teen.
Following the successful completion of Phase 1 treatment, Phase 2 treatment is typically much more moderate than it would have been if Phase 1 had been skipped over.
We think of this second phase as fine-tuning your teen's smile after all the groundwork was laid in Phase 1 – it's the finishing touch. Phase 2 treatment is also typically much shorter than Phase 1 (six to 12 months).
- Continuing on the path to a healthy smile
The goal of the second phase is to make sure each and every tooth is positioned in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth.
- Phase 2 braces or aligner treatment
- Maintenance and retainers
Once Phase 2 treatment comes to a close, retainers will be prescribed for your child. These will be worn on an ongoing basis to ensure that treatment results are maintained long-term.
Early Orthodontic Treatments for Kids
These are a few of the most common orthodontic treatment options for kids at Orthodontic Specialists of Lake Oswego.
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