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Adolescent Treatment

Adolescent orthodontic care.Two-phase treatment occurs when a patient is evaluated and needs intervention prior to starting regular orthodontic treatment, resulting in two separate treatment plans. Phase one is required when the patient is a child and still has his or her primary teeth. The phase one treatment plan can include preventive, interceptive or modifying care. Orthodontic appliances may be placed in order to: prevent a problem from happening, correct a current problem, or help direct jawbone growth. Various troubles with tooth alignment, gums, jaws and facial problems can typically be corrected with phase one care. Another great advantage of phase one treatment is reduced phase two treatment time.

Generally, phase two treatment is standard orthodontic treatment. This relates to placing braces on the patient’s teeth once the permanent teeth have erupted. The braces straighten the permanent teeth and correctly align the jaw to prevent bad bites.

 

 

When's The Best Time To Begin Phase Two Treatment?

A range between the age of 11 and 15 is the most common period for phase two orthodontic care, and for good reasons. By age 12 most of the permanent teeth have came in. This is also a good age to detect if misaligned teeth, gaps and malocclusions (bad bites) will result. These problems will hardly ever correct themselves, which is why most parents decide to follow through with orthodontic treatment for their child. Here are some of the types of braces we use on children and adolescents:

 

 

Metal braces.Metal Braces need no introduction. But you might be surprised to find they're smaller and lighter than ever. They may even offer some customized options, like colored elastic ties on the brackets.

 

Clear braces.Clear Braces feature brackets made of ceramic or composite materials which blend in with your teeth, making them harder to notice. They're suitable in many situations, but they cost a little more.

 

Clear aligners.Clear Aligners for teens is a series of removable, clear plastic trays that gradually straighten teeth as they're worn (for 22 hours per day). Formerly recommended only for adult patients, they now come with special features — like compliance indicators to tell how often you've been wearing them — that make them appropriate for teens in some situations. The advantage: they're practically invisible!

 

Lingual braces.Lingual Braces offer the most unnoticeable form of orthodontic treatment because they are attached to the back (tongue side) of the teeth, where they cannot be seen at all.

 

Other orthodontic appliances may be recommended in some cases, where major tooth or jaw movement is needed. They can range from small devices that fit inside the mouth to external headgear. But don't worry: You'll get used to them, and they're temporary — but they provide a long-term benefit in a short time.

Many negative associations of braces are not present during the early years of child development. Furthermore, the majority of children in this stage have braces, which makes it “cool” as most of their friends are wearing braces as well, and feel as though they are apart of the in-crowd.

Besides the benefits of fitting in with their friends, children at this age are growing rapidly, and Dr. Pershad can usually take advantage of these growth spurts to help structure the jaw and teeth appropriately. Children at this age also have high metabolisms, which can help shorten overall treatment time and limit the discomfort of orthodontic care.

Your Niagara Falls Orthodontist Is Here To Help

Patients who have undergone both phase one and phase two treatment are more prone to have lasting results, so that adult treatment can be avoided. Our goal for your two-phase orthodontic treatment is to give you correctly aligned teeth that provide ideal jaw function and a healthy smile! If you have any questions regarding adolescent treatment for your child, please contact us at our Niagara Falls, St. Catharine’s, Fonthill, or Beamsville location. We look forward to seeing you smile!

 

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