Phase 1 Orthodontics – Casper, WY
Give Your Child a Lasting, Healthy Smile
When it comes to orthodontics, braces during the pre-teen and early teen years often come to mind, but did you know your child could benefit from treatment long before then? Casper Children’s Dental Clinic provides pediatric phase 1 orthodontics in Casper to quickly address alignment and bite concerns to lessen the need for a lengthy or invasive treatment as your child grows. Get in touch with us today to schedule your little one’s consultation. We look forward to seeing you!
Why Choose Casper Children’s Dental Clinic for Phase 1 Orthodontics?
- Comprehensive Pediatric Care in One Place
- Experienced, Highly Skilled Dentist
- Reduce the Need for Future Orthodontic Care
Importance of Primary Teeth
Although your child’s baby teeth are only in place for a few short years, they are invaluable to your child’s oral health and development. They allow them to learn how to chew and speak correctly while also acting as placeholders for their permanent teeth.
Besides the health of their baby teeth, their positioning is equally important. If the baby teeth are out of alignment or create an improper bite, it can impact the positioning of their adult teeth. Correcting issues early on with phase 1 orthodontics allows us to create a successful foundation for your child’s beautiful smile.
How Phase 1 Orthodontics Works
Phase 1 orthodontics corrects issues with the baby teeth in order to guide the adult ones to erupt in their ideal positions. This also improves the growth of their jaw to ensure they develop the functions necessary for eating, speaking, and even breathing.
During your child’s initial consultation, we conduct a brief examination and take diagnostic images to assess their teeth, even those that have yet to erupt. Depending on the results of the examination, we create a customized treatment plan to address your child’s individual needs.
Phase 1 care can involve the use of a few different types of oral appliances, including headgear, palatal expanders, space maintainers, braces, and more. Treatment may take anywhere from 6 to 18 months.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Phase 1 Orthodontics?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic consultation around the age of 7. Although this may seem early, it allows us to monitor the development of your child’s teeth and bite. At this stage, it gives us the opportunity to identify current alignment issues that affect the baby teeth and jaw. It also allows us to detect complications that may arise in the future, like overcrowding concerns. By doing so, we can correct the problems to create the foundation your child needs for a healthy, functional smile.
We might recommend phase 1 orthodontic care for your child if their teeth are:
- Crowded and/or overlapping
- Gapped or spaced-out
- Affected by unhealthy dental habits, such as prolonged thumb and pacifier-sucking
- Affected by a bite problem
The Benefits of Phase 1 Orthodontics
Some of the benefits of phase 1 orthodontics include:
- Treatment can reduce or eliminate the need for orthodontic care during the patient’s teenage years.
- Promoting proper oral development can reduce the risk of sleep disordered breathing, such as obstructive sleep apnea.
- Properly aligning the teeth and jaws during childhood may reduce the risk of numerous oral health problems, including decay, gum disease, and bad breath.