Two-phase treatment is for kids, but not all kids need it. For many children, orthodontic treatment can happen at just one time. Some children, however, require early treatment to take advantage of predictable stages of growth and development. When kids do need early treatment, it is possible they might need a second phase of treatment once all of their adult teeth are in (hence “two-phase orthodontics”).

Two-phase treatment has many advantages. For example, some problems that can be treated relatively easily in a growing child, require corrective surgery if addressed after growth ends. Two-phase treatment lets your orthodontist guide the growth of your child's jaw and create adequate space for existing and incoming permanent teeth. This can reduce the need to pull permanent teeth in the future as well. Early orthodontic care can also gently correct misalignment between the upper and lower jaws that we see in an underbite, and intervene in childhood habits that move teeth in the wrong direction or even change the shape of the underlying bone. 

Most often, when we recommend early treatment, it is not to move baby teeth but to fix jaw imbalances. The typical focus of early treatment is jaw growth improvement, not teeth alignment (which is usually done at a later age). On occasion, we do sometimes move your child's baby teeth during early treatment, but this has nothing to do with their appearance. It's all about creating space for incoming permanent teeth with appliances like a palatal expander and supporting your child's facial development, speech, and ability to bite and chew. 

Untreated orthodontic problems typically grow worse and become more difficult to treat as children grow older. Addressing them early can prevent not only jaw growth imbalances and orthodontic challenges such as crowded teeth, but also oral health issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. That's why it's important to stop damaging habits early, such as thumb-sucking and use of a pacifier. 

The cost of early orthodontic treatment varies depending on the child’s needs, but our commitment to making treatment attainable does not. At Petrous Orthodontics, we believe that part of providing the highest standard of care is making your orthodontic treatment affordable. We will do everything we can to find a payment plan that is low stress for your family’s budgetary needs. By and large though, early treatment is a fraction of the cost of full treatment. Also, if a child gets early treatment and still needs a second phase of treatment when they are older, we offer a reasonable “Phase I Courtesy Discount” off the cost of the second phase of treatment.

The best way to know if your child needs early treatment is to bring them in for a complimentary consultation. This initial consultation doesn't obligate you to any treatment-- all it does is answer your questions and give you the information you need to make great decisions for your child.

You don't need a referral from a dentist, and you don't need to wait until all of your child's baby teeth have fallen out. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children get checked at the age of 7. Evaluation at 7 doesn't mean that treatment will start at 7! It just lets us monitor your child's growth so that if treatment is necessary, we can do it at the best possible time, developmentally.