Phase 1 Interceptive Orthodontics can help to prevent the need for more invasive treatments later, often minimizing the need for extractions while correcting bite and misalignment issues. Today our Surrey orthodontists explain how Phase 1 Treatment and Invisalign First work to transform developing smiles.
Phase 1 Interceptive Treatment
At Guildford Orthodontics our orthodontists offer Phase 1 Interceptive Orthodontics to help address your child's bite and misalignment issues before they develop into more serious problems.
Phase 1 treatment typically begins when kids are between the ages of 7-11 years old at a time when there is still a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth in your child's jaw. This early approach allows the orthodontist to utilize your child's ongoing dental development when correcting existing and potential future tooth and bite misalignment issues.
For many children, Phase 1 orthodontic treatment can help to minimize or even avoid the need for extractions in later phases of their orthodontic treatment journey.
Why Phase 1 Interceptive Treatment Is Often Useful
In this phase of your child's dental development the orthodontist is more easily able to address arch problems and make room for existing teeth as well as incoming permanent teeth. Phase 1 Orthodontics can be used to help prevent pre-existing issues from becoming more severe, correct existing tooth misalignments, and help to make Phase 2 treatment shorter and easier.
Oral Appliances Used in Phase 1 Interceptive Treatment
The appliance recommended for your child will depend upon the issue being addressed. Interceptive Treatment could include orthodontic appliances such as space maintainers, braces on selected teeth only, retainers, expansion appliances, or Invisalign First aligners.
Invisalign First & Interceptive Orthodontics
Invisalign First aligners have been designed to help correct a number of orthodontic issues in children, including narrow dental arches, misaligned teeth, gapped teeth and overcrowding.
Unlike traditional Phase 1 orthodontic treatment devices, treatment with Invisalign First consists of a series of clear plastic aligners that can easily be removed. The clear plastic aligners have no bulky brackets or wires to cause irritation, and because they are removable, your child won't need to give up any of the foods they love during their orthodontic treatment. This easy-to-use orthodontic treatment for kids can even help to keep brushing easy. Your child simply removes their aligners whenever it's time to brush and floss their teeth.