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All About Early Treatment |
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WHAT IS IT? In severe cases a child’s treatment is sometimes performed in two separate phases. The first phase is often called “early treatment” or “phase I treatment” and usually begins in children between 8-10 years of age. The second phase will begin between 12-14 years of age. WHY EARLY TREATMENT? Early treatment is undertaken to enable the child to get a better end result to their treatment. It also can help reduce the complexity and duration of the second phase. WHO QUALIFIES? If a child’s adult incisor teeth are extremely crowded, it usually indicates an inadequate jaw size. In early treatment the jaws are expanded in an effort to make room for the crowded incisor teeth, crowded canines, and bicuspids that have not erupted. This larger jaw size will help prevent extraction of permanent teeth in the second phase of treatment. If a child has a severe overjet, under-bite or habit (thumb sucking or tongue thrusting) the growth pattern of the face will require treatment. The under-developed jaw will be directed in its growth until the two jaws are brought into proper alignment. Harmful habits are retrained as soon as possible. UNIQUE ADVANTAGES: Early treatment frequently decreases the complexity and duration of the second phase treatment. This is much appreciated by the ninth grade adolescent. Younger children, with their less complicated life-styles, often tolerate orthodontic appliances easier. Bone remodeling is an important part of early treatment, and this takes place more readily in a growing child. Also, in most cases early treatment will eliminate the need for permanent teeth extractions in the second phase. DISADVANTAGES: In early treatment there will be two separate phases of treatment and a maintenance phase between these – there is definitely more treatment. As a result, two phase treatment is more expensive that a single phase in adolescence. |