Hey, parents! If you’re seeing some early signs that your child might need orthodontic care, you're in the right place! 2-Phase Treatment might sound complicated, but it's really just a smart, strategic way to use your child's natural growth to their advantage. Think of it as setting an awesome foundation now so their future smile journey is smoother and faster.
Our goal is simple: to maximize the opportunity to get your child the healthiest, most beautiful smile that will last a lifetime. We use our experience and specialized training to deliver proven results for you and your child in the most comfortable way possible!
Ready to get started?
What is 2-Phase Treatment, Anyway?
It’s an advanced technology approach broken into 2 parts, separated by a resting period.
1. Phase 1 Treatment: Building the Foundation (Ages 5–10, usually)
- The Goal: The main goal of Phase One is to make sure your child's jaws are growing correctly to create enough room for all their permanent teeth. When we catch jaw growth issues or severe crowding early, we can use appliances to guide the jaw's growth.
- Why It’s Awesome: Because kids are growing rapidly, this early intervention is super effective! This strategic planning can prevent us from having to take out permanent teeth later or needing more complicated procedures down the road. It ensures a better, healthier smile foundation!
2. The Resting Period: Watching and Waiting
After Phase 1, we take a break! We usually don't recommend fixed retainers during this time, because we want to let the rest of the permanent teeth come in naturally.
- Monitoring is Key: We will schedule periodic observation appointments, typically every 6 months. This lets us keep an eye on everything and make sure those permanent teeth are erupting correctly. We want to ensure there is enough room so teeth don't become impacted or severely misplaced.
3. Phase 2 Treatment: Achieving Precision
- The Goal: Once most or all of the permanent teeth are in, we begin Phase 2. This is where we make sure every tooth is lined up and working in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth.
- The Method: This phase usually involves Invisalign® clear aligner treatment or a full set of braces to achieve the final, dynamic design of their smile. For Invisalign patients, we offer comprehensive remote care technology at no extra cost. Beyond making treatment more convenient, it can actually shorten treatment time!
- Retention: When Phase 2 is finished, retainers are necessary! Wearing retainers is how we protect your child's amazing new smile and ensure those proven results stay stable for life.
Planning Now Saves Little Smiles Later
We make sure your child’s treatment plan is completely customized! Before starting, we take orthodontic records — things like digital models of the teeth, X-rays, and photos. This is our cutting-edge blueprint that lets us determine the exact appliances to use and how long each phase of treatment will last.
What happens if we wait? If a jaw discrepancy is present, waiting until all permanent teeth come in for a single-phase treatment can result in an outcome that isn't ideal or may not be as stable over time. That’s why early, strategic care is so important!
Ready to explore options for orthodontics for children? We can help you achieve your goals now!
Whitlock Orthodontics Reviews
Dr. Whitlock is an amazing orthodontist who truly knows what he’s doing! Having digital monitoring is super convenient especially for those who work or have busy schedules. You get timely responses through the app if you have any questions about how treatment is going , which makes communication easy and stress free. The staff is friendly, professional, and always happy to answer any questions. They make you feel comfortable from start to finish and make the whole process smooth and easy. Receptionists are also very kind and knowledgeable, they definitely give off great energy from the time you walk in to the time you walk out . Highly recommend!
Great experience! Dr Whitlock and his staff were very kind and accommodating throughout my Invisalign process. The scanning process is super easy. I was very happy with the results with the appearance of my teeth and the way it has help me sleep better with the positioning of my teeth where my tongue has more resting room. I am 53 and I was never advised that I needed braces. My teeth were pretty straight. A couple years ago my dentist said that as we age our teeth will continue to crowd inward. Which could be a problem. So I got a consultation with Dr. Whitlock. Great decision!!
Dr. Whitlock and his team are amazing! They took great care of me for over 3 years and were always so kind and detail-oriented. Every visit was smooth and I could tell they really cared about getting the best results.Now I have a smile I’m proud of, and I’m so thankful for all their hard work. Highly recommend this office if you’re thinking about orthodontic treatment!
5 stars all the way, love everything about it! I really like how they give you a tour of the office on your first visit. Dr. Whitlock and Michelle were so professional explaining everything about treatment and answering all my questions! Highly recommended!
Dr. Whitlock is amazing and the entire staff are all so nice. All of my children have been in braces at one point and my youngest daughter is currently in invisaline. I wish these had been out years ago!!
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We're Your Supportive Smile Partners!
We are thrilled to be your partners in this journey! We promise to make every office visit supportive and fun. You've got this, and we're here every step of the way!
Let’s chat about setting up the best possible foundation for your child’s smile.
