Many orthodontists identify Phase 1 to mean the same as interceptive orthodontic treatment and it normally starts at an early age. In most cases, the treatment is done even before the permanent teeth have begun erupting at the age six to ten years. It applies mostly to young patients with baby teeth and adult teeth and is commonly done under extreme circumstances where the dental development needs to be corrected.

It is also performed when the doctor tries to prevent current jaw or dental problems from becoming severe as the child continues to grow. In some cases, not every child undergoes the Phase 1 process but for those who experienced the process benefit from the complete dental care. For those individuals who require the Phase 1 treatment, it is different from Phase 2 as Phase 1 is designed for early intervention. Some of the Phase 1 treatment includes retainers or partial braces.

The whole purpose of the treatment is to help in developing the child’s jaw to make more room for future eruption of permanent teeth. The treatment also aims at improving the relationship of the lower and upper jaws. An upper or lower jaw that is not enough or growing too much can benefit from the orthodontic treatment.

With the early intervention and correction, cases such as jaw surgery, late removal of permanent teeth or dental trauma are avoided. If the condition is detected and not treated until the permanent teeth have erupted, it can lead to extreme problems that cannot be corrected by braces alone. Majorly, the Phase 1 treatment is usually between nine to eighteen months and after that, the patient will wear retainers and go for a checkup after every four to six months while waiting for permanent teeth to erupt. When the permanent teeth erupt, the patient enters the phase II treatment.