Kids & Teens

Two Phase Treatment

What is Two PhaseTreatment?

Two Phase treatment in Orthodontics is a specialized process that allows and encourages the correct facial development in a growing child, as well as achieving teeth straightening. The purpose of Two Phase Treatment is to maximize the opportunity for improved growth of facial structures towards facial balance.

What are some of the indications for Early Treatment (Phase I Treatment)?

Habits such as tongue thrusting and thumb sucking
A constricted airway due to swollen adenoids or tonsils
Mouth breathing or snoring problems
A bad bite relationship (underbite or significant overbite)
Bone problems (i.e. narrow or underdeveloped jaws)
Jaw joint popping/clicking
Crowded, misplaced or blocked out teeth

What are the goals of Phase I Treatment?

During Phase I treatment, the goal is to help the jaw(s) develop in size and position to accommodate all of the permanent teeth, achieve facial harmony and allow the upper and lower jaws to fit together optimally. Children often show signs of problems with the growth and development of the jaws as early as in their toddler years. For moderate to severe cases, it is still possible to make a great impact on facial growth and development if orthodontics is initiated at ages 7-9 years or at least before puberty. Early treatment will help reduce chances of complications of more difficult bite problems in the future and possibly eliminate complex outcomes such as severe crowding, impacted teeth, or large jaw discrepancies that require extractions of permanent teeth or jaw surgery to correct.

What happens after Phase I Treatment is completed?

After Phase I Treatment has been completed, the child will enter into the “Growth Guidance period”. During this phase, the rest of the permanent teeth will continue to erupt. In some cases, a retainer will be fabricated to help hold the aligned adult teeth in place while the rest of the erupting adult teeth are developing into the mouth.

Facilitated Speech Development: Why is it so important?

Mouth breathing can cause narrow arches and unattractive smiles. Narrow jaws can confine the tongue and interfere with normal speech. Functional appliances help encourage proper facial growth and greatly enhance a child’s ability to speak normally. By using functional appliances while children are actively growing, we can help them achieve a broad, beautiful smile. In addition, mouth breathing can lead to orthodontic problems, as well as other problems, such as lack of oxygen and poor sleep habits. This leaves children prone to daytime fatigue, inability to concentrate in school and headaches.

What is the purpose of Phase II Treatment?

The goal of Phase II Treatment is to align all the permanent teeth and to achieve a healthy, functional and aesthetically pleasing smile. Typically, Phase II Treatment does not begin until all adult teeth are present. This treatment involves upper and lower braces. Once Phase II treatment is complete, the individual will then enter the “retention stage”. This stage involves wearing retainers to help hold the final results.