What is “Phase 1” Orthodontics? A Parent’s Guide to Early Treatment

What is “Phase 1” Orthodontics? A Parent’s Guide to Early Treatment

If you’ve recently been told that your elementary-schooler should see an orthodontist, your first thought was probably, “Wait, they still have baby teeth! Are we really doing braces already?” Likewise, you’ve probably noticed that it’s way more common than it used to be to see kids wearing braces at earlier ages.

It’s totally fair to wonder what’s going on with these recommendations and observations. As a parent, you’re looking at that gap-toothed, 7-year-old smile and thinking about soccer practice and math homework, not braces. At Ernstberger Orthodontics, we offer what is called Phase 1 Orthodontics, and it’s one of the most important things we can do to set your child up for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Due to advances in diagnostic tools and understanding of issues during their development, we are able to identify and correct issues at younger ages. This often leads to much better long-term outcomes and a better overall orthodontic experience.

Phase 1 is about putting out small fires before they turn into big ones.

What is Phase 1?

In the ortho world, Phase 1 (or “early interceptive treatment”) is a short period of orthodontic work (usually between the ages of 7 and 10) designed to fix specific structural and eruption issues while your child is still growing and before all the big teeth are in.

The goal isn’t necessarily to get every tooth perfectly straight (we’ll do that later in Phase 2!). Instead, we’re focusing on the jaw and the bite, and making sure teeth can come in on their own without delays and in better position. Because your child is still developing, we have a “golden window” of opportunity to guide that growth & development in the right directions.

Common “Small Fires” We Look For:

Crowding: There simply isn’t enough room for the permanent teeth to come in.
Crossbites: When the upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth (this can cause the jaw to grow lopsided or asymmetrically).
Underbites, Overbites, and Openbites: Where the top and bottom jaws don’t line up correctly, or teeth aren’t coming together as they should.

Why 7 is the Magic Number

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a child’s first check-up by age 7. By then, they have enough permanent teeth for me to see how their smile is shaping up.

Here’s the honest truth, though: Most kids don’t need Phase 1 intervention. In fact, for a lot of my young patients, my professional opinion is simply: “They’re looking great, let’s just keep an eye on things and let Nature work!” But for the kids who do need it, which is about 3-4 out of every 10, catching and correcting an issue early can prevent things like permanent tooth extractions or even jaw surgery down the road. These often simple interventions significantly influence and improve our options during Phase 2, which generally occurs after all of the adult teeth have fully erupted. At EO, we are very intentional and conservative about intervening ONLY when it makes great sense for the bigger picture.

The “EO Way” to Early Treatment

At our office, we are 100% family-owned, with ZERO corporate pressure or influence to treat. That means when you bring your kiddo in, you’re getting an honest recommendation, not a sales pitch. We treat your kids the way we treat our own, with a focus on excellent outcomes and an uplifting and positive experience along the way.

We want your child to walk into our office and feel like they’re hanging out with friends. If we decide *together* that Phase 1 is the right move for your child (and family), we’ll explain exactly what to expect and figure out a way to make it financially comfortable. And if they aren’t ready yet? We’ll be the first to tell you to come back for a regular check-up many months in the future.

The Bottom Line

Early treatment is about setting your child up for longer-term success. By catching and addressing the “small fires” early, we can ensure that their smile grows as healthy and functional as possible, saving you and your young one time and stress in the long run.

Ready to get an honest look at your child’s smile? We’d love to meet you! No official referral is needed, and the first consultation is always free of charge. Why not rule out the need for early intervention? Let’s make sure that young smile and bite are on the right track!