Did you know children should see an orthodontist for the first time before age seven? Though most young patients Levin Orthodontics sees don’t need to begin orthodontic work yet or ever, he still suggests you bring them in for an evaluation. Early assessments allow him the chance to find and fix potential abnormalities before they can produce symptoms that could reduce your child’s quality of life.
If your child needs orthodontic care, Dr. Levin will likely suggest Two-Phase Treatment. If that sounds scary and time-consuming, don’t worry! It’s not!
What Is Two-Phase Treatment?
As the name suggests, Two-Phase Treatment is orthodontic care administered in two stages. Phase one occurs when your child is still young and has some of their baby teeth. Phase two usually happens a few years later once your child has lost all their baby teeth and has grown in most, if not all, of their adult teeth.
Who Needs Two-Phase Treatment?
Two-Phase Treatment is reserved for children who need one or more of the following:
- preventative care — to stop a problem from developing
- interceptive care — to stop an already developing problem
- developmental guidance — giving the jaw and teeth direction and assistance as your child grows
At your child’s assessment appointment, our orthodontist will look for misalignment, tooth loss, spacing problems, tooth eruption, overbite, underbite, posterior bite, anterior open or deep bites, and other things that could be a reason to begin Two-Phase Treatment.
What Are The Benefits?
If you are still doubtful that Two-Phase Treatment is the way to go, we understand your concern. To help soothe our uneasiness, let’s go over some benefits of it.
Less Invasive
As your child grows, orthodontic care becomes more complicated. Consider a child and an adult who have the same issue: the child could undergo a simple treatment, such as braces, to solve the problem, but the adult might need complex treatments like teeth pulling, cosmetic surgery, corrective jaw surgery, or other invasive procedures for the same problem! Correcting a child’s still-developing bones is easier than an adult’s fully-developed ones.
Jaw Alignment Correction
A person’s jaw functionality is linked to many aspects of their life, such as chewing, communication, digestive health, biting, and more. If your child is constantly having difficulty or is at risk of having difficulty chewing or biting, eating can quickly become an unpleasant experience. If they have pain or trouble moving their jaw to eat, or fear choking, they could begin to feel negative emotions about eating. Over time, this could cause digestive issues and vitamin deficiency. An aligned jaw can make mealtime more inviting and pleasant and help you encourage healthy eating habits.
Improve Ability To Talk
Incorrect jaw alignment can also influence tongue posture, which could cause breathing issues and make talking very challenging. It also puts abnormal stress on the jaw and teeth. Relieving this pain can prevent headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, migraines, and neck pain.
Easier Oral Hygiene Routine
Poor oral hygiene could lead to complex, expensive, and uncomfortable problems later in life. If your child has misplaced teeth, oral hygiene can quickly become frustrating. Like eating, if their routine creates negative feelings, they might be less motivated to develop healthy, consistent habits. It is best to fix these issues quickly when they are younger because we don’t want them to associate dental care with “bad” emotions. An easier brushing and flossing routine improves your child’s attitude toward oral hygiene and promotes the development of healthy habits.
Reduced Risk Of Damaged Teeth
Overcrowded or overly spaced-out teeth (known as malocclusion) can grind and rub against each other. This friction can wear down the enamel and increase your child’s vulnerability to oral health conditions. Two-Phase Treatment fixes this malocclusion and creates space for incoming adult teeth to prevent further or future malocclusion. Protruding teeth are more likely to become chipped, broken, or traumatized. Two-Phase Treatment lessens the likelihood of dental injury by aligning the teeth.
Pain Reduction
Children might smile, laugh, or talk less to reduce discomfort caused by moving the jaw, gum disease, or tooth sensitivity. Pain can also cause poor sleep, which can affect brain function and communication skills. Lack of sleep makes daily tasks challenging. Feeling different from your peers or suffering from discomfort can lead to isolation, depression, and anxiety. Two-Phase Treatment could reduce physical and mental pain by changing facial structure and improving oral hygiene.
Levin Orthodontics Can Help Determine If Two-Phase Treatment Is Right For Your Family!
Levin Orthodontics Can Help Determine If Two-Phase Treatment Is Right For Your Family!Catching any issues or abnormalities early is key to quick and successful treatment. To discover if your child is a candidate for Two-Phase Treatment and get budget-friendly care without sacrificing excellence, contact Levin Orthodontics to schedule a free in-person consultation.
We look forward to meeting you and providing your family with the high-quality care we are known for!