Does your child need braces now—or is it better to wait?

If your child is around 7 or 8 and you've been told they should see an orthodontist, you may have heard terms like Phase 1 treatment, early treatment, interceptive orthodontics, or Phase 2 treatment.

For many parents, this can be confusing. Why would a child need orthodontic treatment before all of their permanent teeth have come in? And does starting early mean your child will definitely need braces again later?

Not necessarily.

The purpose of an early orthodontic evaluation is to determine whether there is a problem that would benefit from being addressed while your child is still growing—or whether it is better to simply monitor their development and wait.

At Impressions Orthodontics in Calgary, Dr. Nadia Nizam recommends an orthodontic screening around age 7 so that developing problems can be identified at the appropriate time.

What Is Phase 1 Orthodontic Treatment?

Phase 1 treatment, also called early or interceptive treatment, takes place while a child still has a mixture of baby teeth and permanent teeth.

The goal isn't necessarily to straighten every tooth.

Instead, early treatment may be recommended when there is a developing orthodontic problem that could benefit from intervention while the child is still growing.

At Impressions Orthodontics, early treatment is described as having the goal of guiding growth to achieve a more favorable outcome later in life. Importantly, not every child is a candidate for Phase 1 treatment.

Why might early treatment be recommended?

Depending on the child's individual development, an orthodontist may identify concerns involving:

• Significant crowding
• Developing bite problems
• Jaw development
• Crossbite
• Teeth that are unable to erupt properly
• Certain habits or developmental concerns
• Problems that could become more difficult to manage later

The important point is that age alone doesn't determine whether Phase 1 treatment is needed. An orthodontic examination is necessary to determine what is happening with your child's teeth and jaws.

What Is Phase 2 Treatment?

Phase 2 treatment is the comprehensive orthodontic treatment that typically occurs once most or all of the permanent teeth have erupted.

This is the stage most parents picture when they think of braces.

The goals may include:

• Aligning the permanent teeth
• Correcting the bite
• Coordinating the upper and lower teeth
• Creating a stable, functional bite
• Improving the overall appearance of the smile

Phase 2 may involve braces or clear aligners, depending on the patient's needs and treatment plan.

Does Every Child Need Phase 1 AND Phase 2?

No.

This is one of the most important things for parents to understand.

Some children benefit from early treatment and later require comprehensive treatment. Other children may be monitored and treated with one comprehensive phase when they are older.

There are also children who are evaluated around age 7 and don't need treatment at all at that time.

That's why an early consultation isn't necessarily about putting braces on your child.

Sometimes the best recommendation is simply:

"Let's watch and wait.". Dr. Nizam’s Favourite saying.

Monitoring allows the orthodontist to follow your child's dental development and determine the appropriate time for treatment if treatment eventually becomes necessary.

Why Wouldn't We Just Wait?

This is an excellent question.

In some situations, waiting is perfectly appropriate.

However, there are certain orthodontic problems where timing matters because a child is still growing.

Early treatment can sometimes help address a developing problem before it becomes more complicated.

For example, if a child has a significant developing bite problem or an issue related to the way the jaws are developing, an orthodontist may recommend intervention while growth can still be taken into consideration.

The goal isn't to treat children simply because they are young.

The goal is to treat at the right time.

Does Phase 1 Mean My Child Will Wear Braces Twice?

Not necessarily.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about early orthodontic treatment.

Phase 1 treatment may involve different types of orthodontic appliances depending on the problem being treated. The objective may be to create a better environment for the permanent teeth and future bite, rather than completely finishing the child's smile.

If Phase 2 treatment is later recommended, the timing and type of treatment will depend on how your child's teeth and jaws develop.

At Impressions Orthodontics, early treatment and comprehensive treatment are considered separately when determining what a child actually needs. The practice also offers combined extended treatment options for families when both Phase 1 and Phase 2 are required.

What Happens at an Age 7 Orthodontic Consultation?

An early consultation is primarily about assessment and timing.

At Impressions Orthodontics, Dr. Nizam uses diagnostic information such as digital scans, photographs and X-rays when appropriate to evaluate the teeth and developing bite.

You may leave the appointment with one of several recommendations:

1. No treatment needed

Your child's development looks healthy and no orthodontic intervention is necessary.

2. Monitor

Your child may have a developing concern, but the best approach is to watch their growth and dental development before deciding on treatment.

3. Phase 1 treatment

There is an orthodontic concern where early intervention may provide a benefit.

4. Wait for comprehensive treatment

Your child may eventually need orthodontic treatment, but there is no advantage to starting yet.

This is why an age 7 consultation can be valuable even when your child doesn't need braces.

What Are the Benefits of an Early Orthodontic Evaluation?

An evaluation can help parents understand what is happening beneath the surface, rather than waiting until all of the permanent teeth have erupted.

It can provide an opportunity to:

• Identify developing orthodontic problems
• Determine whether early treatment could be beneficial
• Identify problems that may simply need monitoring
• Understand the likely timing of future treatment
• Give parents a clearer picture of their child's dental development

The Canadian and American pediatric associations recommend an orthodontic evaluation around age 7, and Impressions Orthodontics follows this general recommendation.

The Most Important Thing Parents Should Know

Early evaluation does not mean early treatment.

And early treatment does not automatically mean your child will have two rounds of braces.

Every child develops differently.

The purpose of seeing an orthodontist around age 7 is to determine:

Is there a problem?

Does it need treatment now?

Would it be better to monitor?

When is the ideal time to intervene?

Those answers can only be determined by evaluating your child's individual development.

Phase 1 vs. Phase 2: At a Glance

	Phase 1	Phase 2
Typical timing	During growth and mixed dentition	After most permanent teeth have erupted
Main goal	Address specific developing problems	Comprehensive alignment and bite correction
Treatment	Depends on the problem	Braces or clear aligners may be used
Does everyone need it?	No	No
Can monitoring be appropriate?	Yes	Treatment timing varies
May there be another phase?	Sometimes	Usually the comprehensive phase

When Should Your Child See an Orthodontist?

If your child is around age 7, an orthodontic evaluation can be a great way to understand how their teeth and jaws are developing—even if they don't need treatment yet.

At Impressions Orthodontics in Calgary, Dr. Nadia Nizam can evaluate your child's development and explain whether the best option is Phase 1 treatment, monitoring, or waiting for comprehensive treatment.

There is no benefit to treating a child simply because they have reached a certain age.

The goal is to treat the right problem, at the right time, for the right reason.

Ready to find out what's right for your child?

Book a complimentary consultation with Dr. Nizam at Impressions Orthodontics in Calgary.

📍 245-30 Springborough Blvd SW, Calgary, AB
📞 403-457-7700
📱 587-875-0830