Early Orthodontic Treatment for Children

Reviewed by Dr. Betsy Ulrich, DDS, MS

Early orthodontic treatment, also called Phase 1, uses braces or appliances to guide a child’s jaw growth and tooth development while they still have baby teeth. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation by age 7. At Sugar Creek Orthodontics, that first check is always free.

Some orthodontic problems are much easier to correct while a child is still growing. That is the idea behind early treatment: by catching issues at the right moment, we can guide jaw development, create room for permanent teeth, and sometimes avoid the need for more involved treatment later. At Sugar Creek Orthodontics, Dr. Ulrich carefully evaluates each child so that early treatment happens only when it will truly make a difference.

Why See an Orthodontist by Age 7?

By around age 7, your child has enough permanent teeth and jaw development for us to spot patterns that are hard to see otherwise, like crowding, a developing crossbite, or a jaw that is growing unevenly. An early visit does not mean early braces. Often it simply means we watch and wait for the ideal time. But when acting early helps, it really helps.

What Early Treatment Can Do

Phase 1 treatment, done while baby teeth are still present, can:

  • Guide the growth of the jaw to make room for incoming permanent teeth
  • Correct a crossbite, underbite, or protruding front teeth
  • Reduce crowding and the future need for extractions
  • Address habits like thumb sucking that affect the bite
  • Improve the results, and sometimes shorten the length, of later treatment

Phase 1 (early treatment) typically lasts about 9–12 months, depending on your child’s specific needs. After that, we monitor growth until it’s time for any additional treatment if needed.

Does Every Child Need Early Treatment?

No, and that is an important point. Many children who come in for an early evaluation simply need monitoring until they are ready for treatment in their teens, if at all. Our approach is conservative: we recommend treatment only when the benefit is clear. When a child does not need Phase 1 care, we say so.

Start With a Free Evaluation

The best first step is a free evaluation, and our Grow Up Smiling program makes it easy to keep an eye on your child’s development over time at no cost to your family. If treatment is ever recommended, we will explain exactly why, what it involves, and our in-house, no-interest financing.

Schedule Your Child’s Free Evaluation

Call our Bloomington-Normal office at (309) 452-7445 or our Lincoln office at (217) 732-1073, or request an appointment online. No referral needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Phase 1 orthodontic treatment?

Phase 1 is early treatment done while a child still has some baby teeth, usually between ages 7 and 10, to guide jaw growth and tooth development before all the permanent teeth come in.

Sometimes. Early treatment corrects specific problems and creates a healthier foundation, but many children still benefit from a second phase of braces once all their permanent teeth arrive.

Many plans cover orthodontic treatment, including early treatment. We verify your benefits and file your claims for you.

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