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A Proactive Approach to Children's Orthodontic Care
An orthodontic evaluation around age seven gives us an opportunity to see how your child's teeth and jaws are developing and identify concerns that may benefit from early attention.
Not every child who visits us at this age will need treatment. In many cases, the best approach is simply to monitor growth and development until the time is right to begin orthodontic care.
When there is a clinical benefit to starting sooner, Phase 1 orthodontics may be recommended to address specific concerns while your child's teeth and jaws are still developing. Depending on their needs, early treatment may focus on creating space for incoming permanent teeth, guiding jaw development, or addressing certain bite concerns.
At our Monrovia orthodontic practice, treatment options for children may include palatal expanders, Invisalign First clear aligners, and Damon self-ligating braces. We'll recommend treatment based on your child's individual development and orthodontic needs.
Complimentary Initial Consultations for Children
Whether your child has been referred by their dentist or you're wondering if it's time for an orthodontic evaluation, we can help. Schedule a complimentary initial consultation at Hwang Orthodontics to learn more about your child's developing smile and whether treatment or continued monitoring is recommended.
Phase 1 orthodontic treatment may be recommended for growing children when there is a clinical benefit to addressing a developing tooth, bite, or jaw concern before all of the permanent teeth have come in.
Early treatment is tailored to each child's needs and may include palatal expansion, braces, or Invisalign First. The goal is to address specific orthodontic concerns at a stage when your child's ongoing growth and development can be considered as part of treatment.
If Phase 1 treatment is recommended, we'll create a personalized plan based on your child's current needs and continue evaluating their development to determine what, if any, additional orthodontic treatment may be appropriate later.
Phase 1 care may also include:
- Planning for future treatment
Phase 1 treatment focuses on concerns that may benefit from attention while your child is still growing. Once this stage is complete, we'll continue assessing the development of their teeth and jaws and determine whether additional treatment may be recommended after more permanent teeth have erupted.
- Tracking your child's development
Throughout treatment, we'll maintain records that help us monitor changes in your child's teeth, bite, and jaw development. Depending on their needs, these records may include digital models or scans, X-rays, photographs, and information about any orthodontic appliances used.
- A period of growth and development
After Phase 1 treatment, there is often a period when no active orthodontic treatment is needed. This gives your child's remaining permanent teeth time to erupt and their teeth and jaws time to continue developing.
During this stage, we'll monitor your child's progress and provide guidance about any retainers or appliances that may be needed.
- Monitoring tooth eruption
Phase 1 treatment does not necessarily place every tooth in its final position. As your child's permanent teeth continue to come in, we'll monitor their eruption and overall bite development at periodic appointments.
If further orthodontic treatment would benefit your child, we'll discuss the appropriate timing and treatment options with you.
If additional treatment is needed after Phase 1, Phase 2 typically begins once most or all of your child's permanent teeth have erupted. This stage focuses on refining tooth and bite alignment as their smile continues to develop.
Phase 2 treatment is planned based on your child's current orthodontic needs and the progress made during their earlier treatment. Depending on their smile, treatment may involve braces or Invisalign clear aligners.
We'll continue to evaluate your teen's teeth, bite, and jaw development and tailor this stage of treatment to their individual needs.
- Refining the smile and bite
During Phase 2, the focus shifts to moving the permanent teeth into their planned positions and improving how the upper and lower teeth fit together. Treatment is customized based on your child's smile and the orthodontic concerns that still need to be addressed.
- Braces or clear aligner treatment
Depending on your child's needs, Phase 2 may involve treatment with upper and lower braces or Invisalign clear aligners. We'll use updated orthodontic records along with information from your child's earlier treatment to develop the appropriate plan for this stage.
- Maintaining the results
Once active orthodontic treatment is complete, your child will be prescribed retainers to help keep their teeth in their new positions. Following the recommended retainer wear schedule is an important part of maintaining their results over time.
Early Orthodontic Treatments for Kids
These are a few of the most common orthodontic treatment options for kids at Hwang Orthodontics.
Braces for Children
At Hwang Orthodontics, we use braces to guide the development of children's teeth and jaws for healthier, straighter smiles.
Invisalign First for Children
Invisalign First is Invisalign just for kids! This system of clear aligners works with your child's developing smile to straighten teeth and correct jaw misalignments.
Palate Expanders
Learn about palatal expansion and its benefits in correcting narrow arches in children.