Orthodontics for Children
The best age to screen children for orthodontic issues is at the age of 7 when children have mixed dentition (a mix of baby and permanent teeth). Orthodontic treatment that takes place at this time is called Phase 1 treatment. The goal of phase one treatment is to guide your child’s growth to encourage the best-looking and functioning smile later in life. Typically, Phase 1 treatment is followed up with Phase 2 treatment but the treatment is less invasive and shorter than when Phase 1 treatment is not performed.
Phase 1 treatment is not for everyone, these are the situations in which it is appropriate:
- Ensure that there is an appropriate amount of space for adult teeth to erupt correctly.
- Encourage symmetrical jaw growth
- Child’s self-esteem is being negatively affected by an orthodontic condition
- Bad habits such as thumb-sucking is hindering the correct development of teeth and jaws
During the orthodontic screenings, it is common to find children who do not need phase 1 treatment because their jaws and teeth are developing correctly. For this group of children, we will schedule a check-up appointment every six months to carefully monitor the status of their growth and development. These check-ups are provided at no cost to you and will allow us to continue to screen your child and identify any issues early on.
At White Rock Orthodontics, we believe in treating children early only when it’s necessary. We try to make every patient’s experience at our office should be something they look forward to. When Phase 1 treatment is necessary, we try our best to limit the intervention to one year of treatment. We also reward our young patients with a membership to the Early Smiles Club to keep their experience with White Rock Orthodontics fun and exciting!
