Typically, Phase II or comprehensive treatment is normal orthodontic treatment which involves placing braces on the patient once all of his or her permanent teeth have erupted. The braces straighten the permanent teeth and finish correctly aligning the patient’s jaw. By age 12, most, if not all, permanent teeth have erupted and are in place. At this time, crooked teeth, gaps and poorly formed bites can easily be detected. These problems will rarely ever correct themselves, so this is when most parents decide to seek orthodontic treatment for their children.
Children at this age are growing rapidly, and orthodontists can usually take advantage of these growth spurts to help shape the bite and dental arch correctly. Pre-teens and teenagers have high metabolisms, which can help shorten overall treatment time and reduce the discomfort of orthodontic treatment.
For many teenagers, orthodontics is an important part of life as a beautiful and healthy smile can boost one’s self-confidence.
