FAQs
What is Phase I and Phase II treatment?
Two Phase Orthodontic treatment is typically used on younger children with the more severe orthodontic problems where waiting for all permanent teeth to come in may compromise the treatment results. Treatment is broken into two steps:
Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (e.g., expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment is dependent on the age the permanent teeth are actually coming into the mouth, usually between the ages of seven and ten. This treatment is focused on “Putting Nature on a Better Path.” It is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, underbites, or harmful oral habits.
The Phase II portion of treatment is then done once all the permanent teeth have come in and is the “finishing” process. It typically involves full braces, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.