What is Phase II Orthodontics?
Phase II Orthodontics is typically performed once all baby teeth are gone. This treatment is commonly done in the teen years, but many of our patients are adults!
What’s the Difference Between Phase I and Phase II Orthodontics?
The simplest way to understand the difference between phases I and II orthodontics is to understand that an ideal occlusion involves two different factors: properly aligned teeth, and properly aligned jaws.
When a bite involves correcting both the jaw and the teeth, it is very difficult to address both problems at the same time. This is due to the fact that the window of opportunity to correct one issue closes once the other opens. Correcting major jaw issues is often done when the bone is pliable, at a younger age, prior to puberty. Typically aligning the teeth is done when all the permanent teeth are in, therefore into the early teen years.