Phase 2 Orthodontics – Dublin, CA
Perfecting Your Child’s Smile
Phase 1 orthodontics lays the groundwork for straightening your child’s teeth by encouraging proper dental development. Once all of their adult teeth have grown in, it might be time for phase 2 orthodontics, where we’ll use traditional braces or clear aligners to refine their oral alignment and perfect their smile. Give us a call and schedule an appointment to see if your child needs phase 2 orthodontics today!
Why Choose Waterford Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of Dublin for Phase 2 Orthodontics?
- Highly Experienced Orthodontist On-Staff
- In-Network with Multiple Dental Insurance Plans
- Children of All Needs Welcome
What is Phase 2 Orthodontics?
Phase 2 orthodontics is intended to be a complementary treatment to phase 1 orthodontics, though it typically isn’t started until a couple of years after phase 1. Where phase 1 focuses on correcting teeth that are still developing, phase 2 works best for children who have all of their permanent teeth.
Depending on your child’s unique situation, we’ll recommend either traditional braces or clear aligners like Invisalign, with the goal of fixing rotated teeth, wide gaps between pearly whites, crooked teeth, and other similar orthodontic issues.
Does My Child Need Phase 2 Orthodontics?
Not every child who completes phase 1 needs phase 2 orthodontics. That said, it’s not uncommon for children to develop a few permanent teeth with alignment issues. Our team will thoroughly examine your child’s mouth, keeping an eye out for uneven pearly whites or an uneven bite. If phase 2 orthodontics is recommended, it doesn’t mean that your child’s phase 1 treatment was a waste of time. In fact, they’ll likely spend less time wearing orthodontics than their peers who never underwent phase 1 treatment.
What Happens After Phase 2 Orthodontics?
After phase 2 orthodontics, your child will likely need to wear a retainer. There are two main types of retainers: fixed and removable.
A fixed retainer is a thin wire that will rest just behind your child’s teeth. Once they get used to it, they’ll hardly notice that it’s there.
Removable retainers look more like clear aligners and must be cleaned regularly. Your child may have to wear their removable retainer all day for the first 24 hours or so, but will then be able to only wear it at night.
Rest assured, regardless of which retainer your child needs, we’ll provide detailed instructions for taking care of it!