TWO-PHASE TREATMENT IN CARY, NC

At Bernstein Orthodontics, we believe in setting the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Our two-phase orthodontic treatment in Cary, NC, is a proactive approach designed to address your child's orthodontic needs early, potentially preventing more complex issues in the future. This specialized process combines tooth straightening with guiding facial growth, resulting in a beautifully aligned smile and optimal oral function. By intervening at the right developmental stages, we can often achieve results that may not be possible once your child's face and jaws have finished growing. Discover how our tailored two-phase treatment can give your child the best chance for a healthy, confident smile that lasts a lifetime.

What is two-phase orthodontic treatment?
When a child has an orthodontic issue that won’t budge, there’s a treatment method your Cary orthodontist uses to correct it and prevent future orthodontic problems. Known as two-phase orthodontic treatment or developmental orthodontics, this specialized process can result in a healthy, beautiful smile for the rest of your child’s life. This treatment combines tooth straightening and physical facial changes to help your child accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, and aesthetic result.
Benefits of two-phase orthodontic treatment and the conditions it can correct
Your Cary orthodontist can use the two-phase orthodontic treatment to correct various problems that will only worsen over time if left untreated. This treatment helps the jaws develop to ensure adequate space for the permanent teeth. The treatment ensures the teeth are in their proper places for a healthy bite, good functionality, and a pleasing appearance, thus creating the ideal result that will remain stable throughout your child’s life.
Children with a narrow palate or tooth damage during formation can benefit from this orthodontic treatment, especially those with a thumb-sucking habit that causes their front teeth to stick out. The treatment will also help children with crowded teeth or unusual bites. Finally, if your children snore during sleep or tend to breathe through their mouths, this is definitely a good reason to visit our orthodontic practice in Cary, NC, as this may require correction beyond the teeth.
What if I delay the treatment?
Delaying treatment can result in a need for more invasive procedures in the future that may not completely correct your child’s smile. Early treatment allows us to monitor your child’s dental growth and development and correct any issues as soon as they’re identified. Early correction is most effective for achieving the best and most lasting results.
What happens during a two-phase orthodontic treatment
Phase One
The Foundation for a Lifetime of Healthy, Beautiful Smiles
Phase One treatment aims to help the jaws develop and create enough space to accommodate all of the permanent teeth while improving the way the lower and upper jaws fit together. Children often show the early symptoms of jaw problems as they develop and grow. Your orthodontist can recognize an upper jaw that is too narrow or growing too much at an early age and fix the issue.
Children above six years of age found to have this jaw discrepancy are good candidates for early orthodontic treatment. Children around eight years of age with crowded front teeth are also good candidates for early treatment as they can help prevent the need to extract permanent teeth in the future.
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- Planning now can save your child’s smile in future
Children reap tremendous benefits from early-phase orthodontic treatment. Receiving early-phase treatment may prevent the removal of permanent teeth later in life or the need for corrective jaw surgery or other surgical procedures to realign the jaws. - Making records to determine your child’s unique treatment
Orthodontic records will be necessary to determine the type of orthodontic appliances to use, the frequency of visits, and the treatment duration. Records consist of the teeth model, X-rays, and photographs. During your child’s initial consultation, your Cary orthodontist will take records to determine if early orthodontic care is necessary
- Planning now can save your child’s smile in future
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Resting Period
In this phase, the rest of your child’s permanent teeth are left alone as they erupt. Your orthodontist may not recommend orthodontic retainers if they would interfere with the teeth eruption. It is best to give the existing permanent teeth some freedom of movement.
Successful phase-one treatment will have created enough room for the permanent teeth to find an eruption path. Otherwise, they may become severely displaced or impacted.
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- Monitoring the teeth’s progress
At the end of phase one treatment, teeth will not be in their final positions. The final positions will be determined and accomplished in the second phase of treatment. Selective removal of some primary (baby) teeth may be in the best interest of enhancing permanent teeth eruption during this resting phase. Therefore, periodic visits to our orthodontic office for examination and observation are necessary, usually on a six-month basis.
- Monitoring the teeth’s progress
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Phase Two
Stay Healthy and Look Attractive
The second phase treatment goal is to ensure each tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it harmonizes with the tongue, cheeks, lips, and other teeth. When we establish this equilibrium, your child’s teeth will function together properly. Phase Two treatment usually involves full lower and upper braces.
At the beginning of the phase-one treatment, your orthodontist will collect your orthodontic records, establish a diagnosis and treatment plan, and use certain appliances to correct and realign the teeth and jaw. Phase two treatment starts after the eruption of all the permanent teeth and usually requires braces on all the teeth for an average period of 24 months. Orthodontic retainers are also required after this phase to ensure your child retains their healthy, beautiful smile.
Life is definitely better with a healthy, beautiful smile. If you need more information or want to begin the process of two-phase orthodontic treatment in Cary, NC, simply give us a call or schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting you!