Darrell L Angle, DDS, Orthodontist Portland, OR -- Orthodontics for children and adults, clear braces, gold braces, adult orthodontics, braces for kids, braces for adults

1) At What Age Should My Child Be Seen By An Orthodontist?
2) Why Should I Be Concerned About A Bad Bite Or Misfit Of My Child's Teeth?
3) What Is Phase I (Early/Interceptive) Treatment?
4) Does Everyone Need A Phase I Treatment?
5) If My Child Has Early Treatment, Will Additional Treatment Be Necessary?
6) Can I Wait On Phase I/Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment Until My Child Is Older?
7) What Is The Length Or Duration Of Phase I/Early Treatment?
8) What Is Phase II Treatment?

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD MY CHILD BE SEEN BY AN ORTHODONTIST?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child be evaluated by age seven. Early detection of some orthodontic problems is important in order to take early corrective action and avoid more difficult treatment later. Most patients, however, are treated during adolescence between the ages of 10-12.
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WHY SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT A BAD BITE OR MISFIT OF MY CHILD'S TEETH?
Bad bites can be detrimental to a patient's dental health by possibly causing premature wear on the teeth, asymmetrical jaw growth, difficulty in oral hygiene, or malfunctioning bite. Orthodontics will align your child's teeth for optimum function, hygiene, and appearance.
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WHAT IS PHASE I (EARLY/INTERCEPTIVE) TREATMENT?
Phase I or Interceptive Treatment usually starts while the child has most of their baby teeth and a few of their permanent front incisors. This stage in development is usually about the age of eight to nine. The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept a moderate or severe orthodontic problem early in order to reduce it's severity. In most cases where early orthodontic treatment is recommended, the immediate treatment objective will be one of the following:

to correct jaw disproportion before aligning teeth
to prevent injury to protruded front teeth
to manage crowding and prevent permanent tooth extraction, whenever possible
to eliminate damaging oral habits
to improve the smile/self-confidence

With these problems, timely treatment takes advantage of the early growth spurt and turns a difficult orthodontic problem into a more manageable one. This helps reduce the need for extractions or surgery and delivers better long term results and treatment options.
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DOES EVERYONE NEED A PHASE I TREATMENT?
Absolutely not! Only certain bites require early intervention. All others can, and should, wait until most or all their permanent teeth erupt.
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IF MY CHILD HAS EARLY TREATMENT, WILL ADDITIONAL TREATMENT BE NECESSARY?
In most cases, yes. After the permanent teeth have erupted, treatment is usually necessary to complete the work that was started in the earlier phase. The objective of continued treatment is to place the permanent teeth in positions of optimal function, comfort, esthetics and long-term stability.
(BACK TO TOP) CAN I WAIT ON PHASE I/INTERCEPTIVE ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT UNTIL MY CHILD IS OLDER?
This is not recommended. If your child needs Phase I treatment this usually means that he or she has a difficult problem that requires attention now. If no orthodontic action is taken, treatment options become limited, more difficult, and the long-term stability may be compromised. In addition, it may lead to extractions, oral surgery and increased costs.
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WHAT IS THE LENGTH OR DURATION OF PHASE I/EARLY TREATMENT?
Typically, phase I/early treatment takes 4 to 16 months, or longer depending on the age of the patient, the severity of the problem, the patient's cooperation, and the degree of movement possible.
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WHAT IS PHASE II TREATMENT?
Phase II treatment usually occurs one or two years later and involves "full" braces. Usually we are waiting for 12-16 more permanent teeth to erupt before Phase II begins. This most commonly occurs at the age of 11-13. The goal of Phase II treatment is to achieve an ideal occlusion ("bite") with all of the permanent teeth.
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To schedule a Complimentary Examination Click Here
16330 S.E. Stark Street • Portland, OR 97233 • phone: 503.252.5567 • fax: 503.252.1995
e-mail: angleortho@comcast.net
www.angleorthodontics.com

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