Early Treatment

Quality Care From Your Dothan, AL Children's Orthodontist

It is recommended that children should have an orthodontic evaluation by the age of 7 in order to detect any developmental issues with the jaws or teeth. Some of the common orthodontic problems are crossbites, crowding, or premature loss of baby teeth. By starting your child's treatment time early, we can avoid any serious oral health issues to ensure the future of a healthy and beautiful smile. Dr. Tee McClimans will monitor your child's teeth growth and development in order to provide the appropriate treatment that helps guarantee the best results.

 

Phase One - Interceptive Treatment

The first phase of treatment (Phase I) typically occurs when the patient has many of their primary teeth or "baby" teeth. The purpose of Phase I treatment is to help the jaw develop in a way that will accommodate all of the permanent teeth and to ensure proper structure of the upper and lower jaws. During this phase, limited orthodontic appliances such as expanders or partial braces may be used to make more space for developing teeth to prevent overcrowding, overbites, underbites, and other oral abnormalities. The treatment can occur between the ages of 7-11 and usually lasts between 9-18 months.

The advantages and design of the Phase I treatment is to:

• Correct biting and chewing
• Guide the growth of the jaw bones that support the teeth so the teeth and jaws develop properly
• Lower the risk of damage of any protruded teeth
• Establish long-term stability so that the teeth remain where they are supposed to
• Correct any harmful oral habits such as thumb sucking

 

Resting Period

During this phase, the remaining permanent teeth are left alone to erupt from the gums and allowed the freedom to move around. A successful Phase One treatment will have guided the permanent teeth to the appropriate eruption path for optimal jaw development. We recommend that your child comes in periodically to monitor the teeth's progress.

 

Phase Two - Traditional Braces

The second phase (Phase II) takes place when the patient has most or all of their permanent teeth. The goal of Phase II is to make sure that each tooth has an exact location in the mouth which aligns with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth. This will usually involve braces or Invisalign on the upper and lower teeth, which are worn for around 18-30 months and can begin between the ages of 11-13.

The advantages and design of the Phase II treatment is to:

• Move permanent teeth into their final positions
• Continue improving teeth function and facial appearance

 

Contact Your Dothan, AL Pediatric Orthodontist!

Our dedicated team at McClimans Orthodontics is here to answer any questions you may have about our Two PhaseTreatment for your child or any of our other orthodontic services. We have offices located in Dothan & Enterprise, AL, so please give us a call or visit us during our opening hours.