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Young children’s teeth shift and grow frequently. While most orthodontic problems can be treated in one phase, your child might need orthodontic therapy in two phases. A pedodontist (a pediatric dentist) will be able to determine if two phases are necessary.
At the office of Suzanne Clift, DDS, our professional team is committed to pediatric oral health. We consider your child’s point of view and use patience and compassion during each visit. We want to play an active role in helping your child maintain healthy teeth at every stage of their development.
The first phase frequently begins in patients ages 8 and under, when their teeth and jaw are in significant growth periods. The initial cycle can also start with kids who are in the mixed dentition stage, which means that both their primary teeth (usually erupted by around age 3) and permanent teeth (they start replacing the primaries at ages 6 and 7) have erupted.
A pedodontist will discern if your child’s jaw is growing too quickly or if it’s too narrow. The pedodontist will then judge if your child will need early orthodontic treatment, which can thwart the future need for jaw surgery, orthodontic attention and/or the extraction of permanent teeth.
During the second phase, the unaligned teeth will be adjusted usually with full upper and lower braces worn for, on average, two years. The endodontist’s ultimate goal is to ensure that each tooth is in its correct place and that the mouth performs as it should.
A child should start seeing a pedodontist soon after age 1. That’s when the pediatric dentist will start examining her/his teeth and jaw to determine if she/he may need two-phase orthodontics. Orthodontic issues that aren’t treated until Phase 2 can be much harder to fix.
Working as part of an interdisciplinary team, we at the office of Suzanne Clift, DDS offer the highest quality of skilled and compassionate care for your child’s dental needs. For more information about our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
By Suzanne Clift, DDS
July 27, 2021
