Treatment usually takes 12-18 months (at 7-9 years of age) and a variety of appliances may be used to correct specific problems.
Braces – placed on the upper and sometime lower permanent teeth
Headgear – worn to move the upper molars back
Rapid Palatal Expander – work to widen the upper jaw
Face Mask – Worn to move the upper jaw and/or teeth forward
Functional Appliance – a removable retainer worn to redirect jaw growth.
Maintenance Phase
During the time between the first and second phase the patient will be seen approximately 2 times per year. The patient may or may not wear a retainer during this phase.
Phase Two
During the first phase of treatment the orthodontist has no control over 16 un-erupted permanent teeth. If they grow in and problems still exist, further treatment will be required. A separate fee will be quoted at that time. Treatment usually takes 12-24 months at age 12 to 13 years.
Full Treatment
If you decide to wait, treatment will be started with all permanent teeth have erupted. Full treatment usually takes 20-36 months at 12-14 years of age. The length of treatment depends on several factors, including:
• Severity of the Problem.
• Patient Cooperation
• Age of the Patient
• Consistency in Keeping Appointments