{"id":72,"date":"2026-04-28T19:16:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T19:16:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.doctorpike.com\/blog\/?p=72"},"modified":"2026-04-28T19:16:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T19:16:44","slug":"phase-1-orthodontics-good-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doctorpike.com\/blog\/phase-1-orthodontics-good-candidates\/","title":{"rendered":"Would Phase 1 Orthodontics Be Good for Your Child\u2019s Smile?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.doctorpike.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-300x200.png\" alt=\"Child smiling with braces\" class=\"wp-image-73\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.doctorpike.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.doctorpike.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image.png 698w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re worried your child might need braces in the future. Maybe their teeth are clearly crooked, or their bite doesn\u2019t come together quite right. Whatever the reason is for your concern, you\u2019ll be glad to know that your pediatric dentist can help with something known as \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.doctorpike.com\/phase-1-orthodontics.html\">phase 1 orthodontics.<\/a>\u201d Keep reading to see if this treatment would be good for your child\u2019s smile!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Idea Behind Phase 1 Orthodontics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Essentially, phase 1 orthodontics works as an interceptive treatment. The goal is identify potential orthodontic issues early, while a child still has some or most of their baby teeth. This is because if the baby teeth grow in crooked, the permanent teeth to follow could as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, correcting the baby teeth will encourage the permanent teeth to come in straighter. Thanks to phase 1 orthodontics, your child will be less likely to need long or complex orthodontic treatment down the road \u2013 if they\u2019ll need it at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who\u2019s a Good Candidate for Phase 1 Orthodontics?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your child may be a good candidate for phase 1 orthodontics if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They have an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They have trouble chewing or speaking clearly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They have multiple gaps between their teeth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Their teeth look crooked or are crowded closely together<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain oral development patterns and habits are also risk factors for needing orthodontic treatment later in life, so a pediatric dentist might also recommend phase 1 orthodontics if your child\u2019s baby teeth have fallen out prematurely or they\u2019re prone to non-nutritive habits (like thumb-sucking).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Addressing Your Child\u2019s Unique Needs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Phase 1 orthodontics doesn\u2019t look the same for every child. Some start treatment as early as age 6, while others might start closer to 10 or 11 years old, for example. The type of orthodontic appliance your pediatric dentist will recommend will also depend on your child\u2019s unique needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re not already taking your child to twice-yearly checkups, then it\u2019s a good idea to schedule a visit with their pediatric dentist. They\u2019ll be able to tell you whether your child would benefit from phase 1 orthodontics and what their treatment might involve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.doctorpike.com\/meet-dr-pike.html\">Dr. Steven Pike<\/a> has been practicing pediatric dentistry for over 15 years, and is proud to be able to carry on his father\u2019s legacy. Along with other dental services, he provides phase 1 orthodontics at his practice in Portland. If you think your child might be a good candidate for this interceptive treatment, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doctorpike.com\/contact.html\">contact Dr. Pike\u2019s office<\/a> at 503-297-1711 to schedule a consultation. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019re worried your child might need braces in the future. Maybe their teeth are clearly crooked, or their bite doesn\u2019t come together quite right. Whatever the reason is for your concern, you\u2019ll be glad to know that your pediatric dentist can help with something known as \u201cphase 1 orthodontics.\u201d Keep reading to see if this [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Is Phase 1 Orthodontics Right for Your Child? | Dr. Pike, Dentistry for Children<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Phase 1 orthodontics might benefit your child if their baby teeth seem to be growing in crooked. 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