The American Association of Orthodontists and many other worldwide orthodontic associations recommend that a child should have his or her first orthodontic exam at age seven, or earlier if there are obvious signs of an orthodontic problem.
Some examples of noticeable problems include chewing, biting, or speech problems, finger or pacifier sucking habits that persist beyond age six, protruding front teeth, tooth spacing or crowding problems, baby teeth falling out prematurely, chronic mouth breathing, jaw joints that click or are painful, misplaced, or extra teeth, a weak or prominent chin, or other facial imbalance. Just because your child doesn’t have any of these doesn’t mean he doesn’t have orthodontic needs. There are many problems that can occur even though the front teeth look straight while some of these notable conditions, which Look intimidating and complex, they dissolve on their own.
Phase I, also called interceptive treatment, usually begins when your child still has most of her baby teeth and perhaps a few of the permanent front incisors. This usually occurs around age seven and is referred to as early mixed dentition. The goal of interceptive treatment is to free up space in the dental arches for permanent teeth and to allow the upper and lower jaws to fit together properly. The treatment can be nothing more complicated than a retainer-like device, used to guide the existing teeth into the correct positions for permanent teeth to penetrate properly, or it can involve the removal of certain baby teeth to make enough room for permanent teeth. Interceptive treatment may also include a combination of orthodontic treatments. The methods and timing used are determined by your child’s specific orthodontic problem and unique personality.
Early orthodontic treatment takes advantage of a child’s growth and uses it to make a difficult problem manageable. Waiting for the baby teeth to come in and the permanent teeth to come in or until facial growth is almost complete can make correcting some problems more difficult. Leaving some conditions untreated, such as upper and lower jaw misalignment, can result in a discrepancy too large to treat with braces alone.
However, not all bite anomalies require early intervention. Many can disappear naturally or can wait until most of the permanent teeth have erupted. Only your orthodontist can determine which problems require immediate treatment, which are better treated at a later date, and which can be left to nature. That is why it is so important that your child is examined at a young age. That way you have the option to start treatment when your child will benefit the most.
The most important thing to remember is that the end result of early interceptive treatment will be a more stable orthodontic condition and an attractive, balanced profile. The benefit for your child is incalculable. A future article will address phase II or the second tuning phase of the treatment. This would also be the final stage of orthodontic treatment in children. Not all children need stage II treatment, but most orthodontists will tell you to expect it. If your child doesn’t need it, you’ll be very happy! If your child does need additional treatment and you were not told to expect it, you are more likely to be very unhappy. It’s also important to remember: Phase II treatment is not “redoing” corrections made during Phase I.
Typically, a patient will have about sixteen new (permanent) teeth erupting (coming into his or her mouth) after Phase I treatment ends. This does not include third molars or wisdom teeth. Sometimes nature gets it perfect to near perfect. Sometimes she does not and additional treatment is needed. It’s very hard to get a parent to understand this as most think their child needs “two sets of braces” and the orthodontist should have waited. This is not always the case. During the orthodontic evaluation, ask the questions you need answers to. If necessary, schedule a meeting with the physician and/or treatment coordinator to resolve any concerns. Any office would be happy to do this for you. If you have an office that hesitates for a moment, choose another orthodontist!
© 2007 Avis Ward’s Award Consulting, LLC
Braces and Young Patients – Phase I Interceptive
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