The Benefits of Two-Phase Treatment
Every dental and orthodontic patient is completely unique and deserves to be given a fully customized dental plan. Here at Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics, we have worked for decades to create and perfect our two-phase treatment plan to best suit each one of our patients’ dental needs without being invasive or uncomfortable. Our two-phase treatment focuses on two independent steps. We start by focusing on skeletal, social, and safety issues in phase 1 treatment, and then move onto the physical and facial treatments necessary to finish our phase 2 treatment. By breaking down our treatments into these two distinct sections, we help young adults get setup for a life of straight and healthy teeth that they can rely on. If you would like to learn more about our two-phase treatment plans or want to learn about your personalized dental and orthodontic journey, contact the elite team at Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics today.
Phase 1
Two-phase treatment works best when started at a young age to really make the most of jaw growth and guiding the erupting teeth into place. If treatment is put off for two long, your children’s teeth can be much more difficult to align, and they may not be able to achieve the perfect smile without more extensive treatment such as permanent teeth extraction. It is extremely important to start this process as soon as possible to make the most of the growing process. The overall goal of the first phase is to help the jaw grow in a way that helps accommodate all of the adult teeth while also helping both the upper and lower jaws fit together. Once a child is over the age of six and are showing the signs of teeth crowding, social, and/or jaw issues, they can begin phase one of this treatment. Starting this process early not only helps your child’s teeth grow in healthily, but it can help prevent the unnecessary removal of teeth later in life. This stage can utilize a variety of treatments including Invisalign, expanders, partial braces, and other appliances to control the growth of both jaws. Here at Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics, we are proud to be in the top five Invisalign providers in the world. That expertise has allowed us to utilize “Invisalign first” in our first phase of treatment, both cutting down on treatment time and making treatment much more subtle. Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics helped launch Invisalign first as one of the beta testers of the product, and have published several cases using Invisalign first, touting its ease of use and incredible outcomes without the use of expanders or wires.
Phase 2
After the first phase is completed, we then utilize a brief resting period to allow the remaining permanent teeth to erupt and begin to move into place. Once the remaining teeth have fully come in, we start the second phase of treatment. This second phase is focused on ensuring that each tooth has enough space to easily fit into its permanent location to work in harmony with the lips, cheek, tongue, and surrounding teeth. We specialize in expediting this process with 12-18 months of Invisalign aligners or traditional braces, to quickly and subtly move the permanent teeth into place.
If you want to give your child the gift of beautiful teeth, our two-phase treatment plan is the perfect way to set your child up for a life of healthy teeth. Contact us today to learn more or schedule your virtual appointment.
