Phase 1 Orthodontics – Naperville, IL
An Early Start on a Straighter Smile
While you may associate orthodontic treatment with young people in their early teens, some pediatric dental patients can benefit from receiving braces earlier than that. Phase 1 orthodontics can be an excellent way to help your child avoid harmful dental misalignments and set them up to achieve a gorgeous and healthy smile as they mature. Here’s a quick look at how Phase 1 Orthodontics works from the friendly team at Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics Consultants, but please feel free to contact our office in Naperville if you’d like to know more.
Why Choose Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics Consultants for Phase 1 Orthodontics?
- Compassionate and Experienced Dental Team
- Address Dental Misalignments in Their Early Stages
- Flexible Financing Options Available
How Phase 1 Orthodontics Works
Phase 1 orthodontics is designed to address alignment issues in young children who are still losing their baby teeth typically between the ages of six and nine. Depending on the patient’s needs, treatment can last between six to eighteen months and may involve:
- Headgear designed to adjust the alignment of the growing jaw
- Functional appliances designed to align the bite and help permanent teeth grow in properly. One example is the Herbst Appliance.
- Limited braces that treat only several teeth.
- Specialized stabilizers designed to help the teeth stay in place and encourage the adult teeth to grow in properly.
- Expansion appliances that widen the dental arch as the jaw develops so adult teeth can emerge properly. One example is the palatal expander appliance.
- Space maintainers that help give permanent teeth the room they need to emerge.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Phase 1 Orthodontics?
The best way to find out if your child may be a suitable candidate for phase 1 orthodontics is to schedule a consultation at our Naperville office when they are around the age of six or seven. During this appointment, Dr. Dulli or Salem will evaluate the patient’s mouth and dental alignment and determine the best way to help them achieve a straight and healthy smile. We may recommend phase 1 orthodontics if your child exhibits:
- Crowded teeth.
- Crooked teeth.
- Gaps or spacing between teeth.
- Teeth that are too far in front or behind the other teeth, which is indicative of an alignment issue.
- Continued thumb or pacifier sucking after early childhood.
The Benefits of Phase 1 Orthodontics
Phase 1 orthodontic care can provide a variety of important benefits like:
- Reducing the need for further orthodontic work later in life.
- Preventing oral health issues related to alignment problems such as speech impediments and breathing problems.
- Addressing issues with jaw development while they are in their early stages, which can prevent grinding and the need for jaw surgery.
- Being a more comfortable treatment process than traditional orthodontic work. This is because phase 1 orthodontics is typically used to guide developing teeth into their proper positions instead of to push teeth that have already emerged into a new alignment.