Interceptive Orthodontics can help to prevent the need for more invasive orthodontic treatments later in your child's life, often minimizing the need for extractions while correcting bite and misalignment issues. Here our Langley orthodontists explain how Phase 1 Treatment and/or Invisalign First work to transform your child's smile.
Phase 1 Interceptive Treatment
At Langley Orthodontics our orthodontists offer Phase 1 Interceptive Orthodontics to treat your child's bite and misalignment issues before they develop into more serious concerns.
Interceptive orthodontic treatment usually begins when kids are between the ages of 7-11 years old at a time when there is still a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth in your child's jaw. This approach allows the orthodontist to utilize your child's ongoing dental development when correcting existing and potential future misalignment and bite issues.
For many kids Phase 1 orthodontic treatment can help minimize or could even avoid the need for extractions in later phases of their orthodontic treatment.
When Phase 1 Interceptive Treatment Can Be Useful
In this phase of your child's dental development, the orthodontist is more easily able to address arch problems and make room for existing teeth as well as incoming teeth. Interceptive Orthodontics can be used to help prevent pre-existing issues from becoming more severe, correct existing tooth alignment problems, and help to make Phase 2 treatment shorter and easier.
Oral Appliances Used in Phase 1 Interceptive Treatment
Every child's smile is unique. The appliance recommended for your child will depend upon the issue being addressed. Phase 1 Treatment may include orthodontic appliances such as space maintainers, braces on selected teeth only (limited phase braces), customized retainers, expansion appliances, or Invisalign First aligners.
Invisalign First & Interceptive Orthodontics
Invisalign First aligners have been designed to help correct a number of orthodontic issues in young children, such as misaligned teeth, overcrowding, gapped teeth, and narrow dental arches.
Unlike traditional Phase 1 orthodontic treatments, Invisalign First consists of a series of clear plastic aligners that can easily be removed when necessary. The smooth plastic aligners have no bulky brackets or wires to cause irritation, and because they are removable, your child won't need to give up any of the foods they love while they are straightening their teeth. This convenient treatment can even help keep brushing easy. Kids simply remove their aligners whenever it's time to brush and floss their teeth.