Early Treatment (Phase I)

According to the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) your child’s first check up for an orthodontic consultation around age 7 and 8 years old. At this age, your child has enough permanent teeth to be evaluated by an orthodontic specialist. Early treatment can be in the patient’s best interest if their problem could be more severe over time and if it’s left untreated. The primary focus of this phase is to prevent a problem or guide the growth of the jaw and facial bones allowing space for permanent teeth. Appliances may be utilized in this process to help direct the growth of the upper and lower jaw, allowing for more room and adequate growth of all the permanent teeth. This could prevent removal of permanent teeth, overcrowding and even the need for jaw surgery. Dr. Kanas tries very hard to avoid doing Phase I. Many times, Dr. Kanas can prescribe extraction of “baby” teeth to allow the eruption of the “adult” teeth. This can help avoid the need for orthodontic treatment until one comprehensive phase of treatment can be rendered.