Phase 1 Orthodontics – Lake Zurich, IL
Guiding the Development of a Beautiful Smile
Starting orthodontic treatment early in your child’s life can make all the difference for their well-being. At Grand Dental – Lake Zurich, we encourage parents to schedule a Phase 1 orthodontic consultation before their child’s 7th birthday. Our in-house orthodontic specialist and team of highly trained experts will evaluate your child’s teeth and jaws in order to detect any developmental issues and form a plan to treat them as early as possible. If your child is about the right age for their orthodontic evaluation, please contact our office today.
Why Choose Grand Dental — Lake Zurich For Phase 1 Orthodontics?
- Highly Skilled Orthodontic Specialist In-House
- Variety of Personalized Orthodontic Solutions
- Years of Experience Working with Children
Why Your Child Should See an Orthodontist Before Age 7
By the age of 7, your child’s permanent teeth will have begun to erupt. However, they will also still have some baby teeth. This is the best time for an orthodontist to identify potential problems with how your child’s mouth is developing. Early detection and treatment of orthodontic issues is ideal since it is easier to make changes to the teeth and jaws while they are still growing. This is why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends children get their first orthodontic checkup by the time they are 7 years old. Beginning treatment early will mitigate serious issues in the future.
Does My Child Need Phase 1 Orthodontics?
It’s essential to schedule a checkup with an orthodontic specialist because many early issues can only be identified by a highly trained professional. A general dentist or pediatric dentist may be able to recognize the need for orthodontic intervention during your child’s routine checkup as well. In addition, there are several symptoms parents can notice that may indicate orthodontic treatment is needed, such as:
- Crooked or overcrowded teeth
- Noticeable spaces between teeth
- Protruding teeth
- A visibly disproportionate jaw
- Difficulty speaking clearly
- Mouth breathing
- Frequently biting the inside of their mouth
How Does Phase 1 Treatment Work?
Phase 1 treatment is specifically designed to guide the development of the teeth and jaws as your child grows. Each plan is personalized depending on the issue or issues that need to be addressed. Orthodontic appliances may be recommended, such as an expander to gradually widen your child’s upper jaw or palate to ensure there is enough room for all the adult teeth to erupt. If a baby tooth has been lost far easier than it should have been, a space maintainer may be needed to stop the neighboring teeth from drifting into the gap. In other cases, specialized braces may be worn for a short time.
Generally, Phase 1 treatment lasts between 10 and 14 months. However, the length of treatment will vary based on what changes need to be made. Once your child has completed Phase 1 treatment, we will continue to monitor their growth and development. If needed, Phase II orthodontics will start soon after all the permanent teeth have erupted, typically around the age of 11.
Phase 1 Orthodontics FAQs
How long does phase 1 orthodontic treatment last?
On average, you can expect your child’s phase 1 orthodontic treatment to last 9-12 months. This will vary depending on your child’s needs, which can include the severity of their problem, how well they comply with treatment, and the type of technology that is used. You can expect to receive a more exact timeline when meeting with a member of our team. A comprehensive oral examination will provide us with a clear idea of how long your child will need early orthodontics.
After initial treatment is complete, your child may be required to wear a retainer for a certain period. This will allow us to monitor their growth and development until it’s time to perform more extensive dental work (if necessary).
What happens after phase 1 orthodontics?
In some cases, your child might require additional orthodontic treatment, also known as phase 2 orthodontics. This will likely be introduced later on. However, before they enter phase 2, our orthodontist will recommend a year of “rest” so that your child can continue to develop naturally.
Once phase 2 treatment begins, you can expect this process to involve addressing issues with their permanent teeth; however, it’s unlikely to be as severe because of the achievements made with phase 1 treatment. It’s also possible that your child may not need phase 2 orthodontics, especially if the issues were fixed with earlier treatment.
Is phase 1 orthodontics covered by insurance?
Some dental insurance companies do cover a portion of phase 1 orthodontic treatment. However, this is not always the case, and it’s why you should expect to review your policy before moving forward. Fortunately, our team at Grand Dental – Lake Zurich is here to help you navigate your coverage. We work with many different dental insurance companies and can help you maximize your benefits.
We’ll also take care of filing any claims and paperwork on your behalf. If we discover that your insurance does not provide partial coverage, you can look at alternative payment options, like CareCredit financing or our Grand Advantage Plan.
Can a child’s bite issues get better on their own?
It’s unlikely that your child’s bite issues will improve without professional treatment. Instead, they’re likely to worsen. It’s important to remember that crooked or crowded teeth can be easily treated early on; however, if too much time passes, the problem can worsen, negatively affecting healthy teeth by pushing them out of alignment.
As your child grows older, orthodontic treatment can become more painful. This is because their teeth begin to be more firmly anchored to the jawbone, making it more difficult to move the fibers over time. Also, the bones in the roof of their mouth harden as they age, so treatment can become more challenging.
It’s best to address these issues early on while your child is still young so that they not only enjoy a healthier smile but also avoid a more painful form of orthodontic treatment later on.