Every child deserves the opportunity to grow into a healthy, confident smile. Phase I orthodontic treatment allows us to identify and address developing orthodontic concerns early, helping guide jaw growth, create space for permanent teeth, and establish the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
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At Life Orthodontics, we believe that the best orthodontic treatment is often the treatment that can be prevented. Phase I orthodontic treatment, also known as early interceptive treatment, allows us to address developing orthodontic problems while a child is still growing. By identifying concerns early, we can guide jaw growth, create space for erupting teeth, improve bite function, and reduce the complexity of future treatment.
While most children will not require early orthodontic treatment, an orthodontic evaluation around age 7 allows us to determine whether intervention may be beneficial. Our goal is always to provide the right treatment at the right time.
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Phase I Treatment Options
Palatal Expanders
Palatal expanders are commonly used during Phase I orthodontic treatment to widen a narrow upper jaw and correct crossbites while a child is still growing. At Life Orthodontics, we offer both fixed and removable expansion options, allowing us to customize treatment based on your child's age, dental development, and specific orthodontic needs. By addressing jaw width discrepancies early, expansion can help improve bite function, create space for erupting permanent teeth, and promote healthy jaw development.
Partial Braces
Partial braces allow us to address specific orthodontic concerns while a child still has a mix of baby and permanent teeth. Rather than placing braces on every tooth, partial braces focus on correcting developing problems such as severe crowding, spacing issues, blocked-out teeth, or bite discrepancies. Early intervention with partial braces can help guide erupting teeth into better positions and reduce the complexity of future treatment.
Underbite Treatment
An underbite occurs when the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth and is often easiest to correct while a child is still growing. Depending on the severity and underlying cause, underbite correction may involve orthodontic elastics, reverse-pull headgear (facemask therapy), bite ramps, or a combination of treatment approaches. Early intervention can help guide jaw growth, improve bite function, and potentially reduce the need for more extensive treatment later in life.
What Sets Us Apart
Conservative, Honest Recommendations
Not every child needs Phase I orthodontic treatment. In fact, many orthodontic concerns can be safely monitored until the ideal time for treatment. At Life Orthodontics, we take a conservative, evidence-based approach and only recommend Phase I treatment when we believe it will provide a meaningful benefit to your child's growth, development, or long-term orthodontic outcome. Our goal is to help families make informed decisions and ensure that any treatment we recommend is truly worth the investment.
All-Inclusive Phase I Treatment
We believe parents should have peace of mind throughout their child's orthodontic journey. That's why Phase I treatment at Life Orthodontics includes all appliances, growth and development monitoring, progress evaluations, and any necessary adjustments related to your child's treatment plan. Whether your child requires a palatal expander, partial braces, underbite correction, or other interceptive treatment, you'll never have to worry about unexpected fees for services that are needed to achieve the best possible outcome. Our goal is simple: provide exceptional care with transparent pricing so families can focus on their child's smile, not surprise costs.
Credit Toward Phase II Treatment
We believe that cost should never be a barrier to giving your child the best orthodontic care. That's why a substantial portion of your Phase I treatment investment is credited toward future Phase II treatment if it becomes necessary. In most cases, families receive at least 40% credit back (typically around $1,500) toward Phase II treatment. This approach helps make early intervention more affordable while ensuring that families receive maximum value throughout their child's orthodontic journey.
The Phase I Orthodontic Treatment Process
Consultation
During your initial consultation, your Tustin orthodontist will assess your orthodontic needs, discuss your goals, and determine the most appropriate orthodontic treatment for you or your family member.
Personalized Treatment Plan
Once we've evaluated your needs, we will create a customized treatment plan designed to achieve the best possible results in the shortest amount of time.
Regular Check-Ups
Throughout the course of your or your child’s chosen orthodontic treatment, you'll attend regular check-ups to monitor your progress, make adjustments as needed, and ensure you receive the best possible care.
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Monitor for Phase II
Once Phase I treatment is complete, we'll continue to monitor your child's growth and dental development to ensure everything stays on track. As new permanent teeth erupt and the jaws continue to grow, we'll schedule periodic observation visits to evaluate progress and determine the ideal timing for any future treatment.
Before & Afters
A smile is worth 1,000 words.
Frequently Asked Questions
At What Age Should My Child See an Orthodontist?
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The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. At this age, enough permanent teeth have erupted to identify potential concerns with jaw growth, bite development, crowding, and tooth eruption. Most children will not need treatment at age 7, but an early evaluation allows us to monitor growth and determine whether intervention may be beneficial.
Does Every Child Need Phase I Orthodontic Treatment?
No. In fact, many children do not require Phase I treatment and can simply be monitored until all or most of their permanent teeth have erupted. At Life Orthodontics, we take a conservative approach and only recommend early treatment when it is likely to provide meaningful benefits, such as correcting jaw discrepancies, creating space for erupting teeth, or addressing bite problems that may become more difficult to treat later.
Will My Child Still Need Braces After Phase I Treatment?
Possibly. Phase I treatment is designed to address specific problems while a child is still growing, but it does not always complete orthodontic treatment. Once the remaining permanent teeth have erupted, some children may benefit from Phase II treatment to achieve ideal tooth alignment and bite correction. We closely monitor growth and development to determine if additional treatment is needed.
What Are the Benefits of Phase I Orthodontic Treatment?
When recommended appropriately, Phase I treatment can help guide jaw growth, correct crossbites or underbites, create space for permanent teeth, improve bite function, and reduce the complexity of future orthodontic treatment. Early intervention can also help prevent certain orthodontic problems from becoming more severe as a child grows.
