How early can we start treatment for uneven smiles? With Phase One treatments, we use interceptive orthodontics to help straighten the smile and guide the growth of the smile, starting as young as age seven. In today’s blog, your Shirly, NY, orthodontist and pediatric dentist talks about the Phase One process and how this can help kids on their journey to an even and beautiful smile!
When to Start Orthodontic Treatment
At around age seven, kids have a mix of permanent teeth and primary teeth in their smiles. At this stage, we can better assess the risk of misalignment, and could start the first phase of orthodontic treatment. If your child’s pediatric dentist recommends an orthodontic appointment, or if you need treatment for misalignment, then consider an appointment with our team. We will carefully examine the smile with digital x-rays to assess the risk of misalignment and to plan treatment in detail, so we can offer treatment to help guide the growth of the smile.
Phase One Treatment Options
One example of Phase One interceptive orthodontics is a retainer. This could be fixed in place or removable, and is used to help correct the alignment of the smile and guide jaw growth. We also have space maintainers. When kids lose baby teeth too soon, this can upset how permanent teeth erupt and increase the risk of misalignment. But with space maintainers, we can keep the area open so teeth cannot shift and the permanent teeth can erupt without complications. Again, this can be fixed in place or removable, and we will provide instructions on how to care for your child’s orthodontics. We will monitor their progress with periodic visits!
Completing Phase Two
What about phase two? This is essentially the last portion of orthodontic treatment and is recommended for teens, when all primary teeth are lost and the permanent teeth have arrived. For more severe cases, we may suggest metal braces. Our team could also discuss Invisalign® aligners, which are clear in appearance and removable. This will shift the teeth into their final positions, so your child has an even and healthy smile, one that makes them feel confident and makes a great first impression. If you have any questions about how our team will treat misalignment, or if you want to get started with the first phase of their treatment, then contact our team today.
Help Your Kids Smile With Confidence With Shirley Orthodontics
We can offer straighter smiles starting as young as age seven with our first phase of orthodontic treatment. To find out more about how we help kids enjoy more even smiles, call Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY at 631.399.1600.
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