What are some of the advantages of early (phase 1) treatment?
Phase I treatment is generally indicated when there is a skeletal discrepancy. Certain type of orthodontic appliances including expansion appliances, headgear and herbst appliances can prevent the later removal of permanent teeth to correct overcrowding and also prevent certain surgical procedures to align the upper and lower jaws. Early treatment can also decrease the time necessary for the 2nd phase (full braces) of treatment. Leaving a malocclusion untreated until all of the permanent teeth erupt could result in a jaw discrepancy too severe to allow achievement of an ideal result with braces alone.
