Early Treatment

Early treatment (also referred to by orthodontists as Phase One or interceptive treatment ) means treatment before all the permanent teeth have erupted.

Along with the Canadian and American Associations of Orthodontists, we recommend that a child receive their first orthodontic screening by age 7. Many times early treatment is not necessary. However, each child’s bite is unique and by examining your child’s teeth at an early age, we are able to recognize potential developmental problems and correct them before they become more serious.

If Dr. Stonecypher sees a problem, he will create a personalized treatment plan for your child. The timing of this early treatment is very important in order to take advantage of your child’s growth and development.

For example, correcting a developmental problem such as a crossbite of the front or back teeth can encourage normal development of the jaws and jaw joints. Also, severe overjets (where the upper teeth are too far forward or the lower teeth are too far back) should be corrected before all the permanent teeth have erupted to take advantage of rapid growth occurring during childhood.

To find out if your child is a candidate for early interceptive treatment, contact us today to schedule a consultation.