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Treatments and Services
No two patients are the same. That’s why we tailor each treatment plan to each patient’s individual needs.
AAO experts recommend children complete their first check-up with an orthodontist by age 7. Around this age, children have a mix of baby (primary) and permanent teeth, and examining them gives your child’s orthodontist a wealth of information. If a problem exists, or if one is developing, your orthodontist can advise you on the recommended treatment, when it should begin, and how long it should take.
If Dr. Bates doesn’t see any need to begin treatment at that time, your child will be placed on an observation schedule that will allow us to monitor their growth and development about every 12 months.
Growth and Development Monitoring
Early Interceptive Treatment (Phase I)
Ages 7-10 : Phase I treatment is performed when a young patient still has a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth. If a problem is identified during the initial consultation, early treatment may be needed. Better known as “Phase I”, early treatment serves the need to address skeletal and dental issues in children before all permanent teeth are in to guide jaw growth and tooth alignment, potentially simplifying future treatment. Common Phase I treatment consist of appliances, like a palatal expander, and/or limited brackets and usually only requires about 12 months of treatment time.
Common problems identified that would need early interceptive treatment:
Crossbite - when the upper teeth fit on the inside of the lower teeth. This can cause jaw developmental issues.
Functional Shifting - when the teeth come together and then slide to lock together. This can cause jaw developmental and other dental issues.
Thumbsucking or other oral habits - sucking the thumb past a certain age can cause disruptions in the proper formation of the maxilla (top jaw)
Severe crowding of erupting permanent teeth - attempt to maintain or create space for the proper eruption of remaining permanent teeth
Comprehensive or Limited Treatment
Ages 11+ : Comprehensive or Limited Treatments are the most common treatment types and applies to anyone that has all their permanent teeth. The purpose of comprehensive treatment is to correct malocclusions like spacing, crowding, overbites, & underbites to improve both function and aesthetics. It often results in better chewing, speech, and oral health, along with a more aesthetically pleasing and confident smile. Limited treatment is usually indicated after relapse has occurred and usually only treats a few teeth. Another common reason for comprehensive or limited treatment is to idealize areas for dental restorations like bridges, implants, partial dentures, etc. We can typically treat with either braces or aligners, depending on your preference!
Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery
Ages 18+ : Orthognathic Surgery may be considered for patients that have finished growing and have a severe malocclusion (improper bite) or skeletal jaw discrepences or deformities that cannot be treated with orthodontic treatment alone. Throughout the process, Dr. Bates works closely with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who will perform jaw surgery during orthodontic treatment. Common needs for surgery are severe underbites, overbites, or open bites,