Two-Phase Treatment

We are pleased to offer early orthodontic treatment to help your child’s oral health and smile. Also known as preventive, interceptive, or phase-one treatment, this type of care helps Dr. Richards identify and treat developing problems early before they can become more complex, and reduces your child’s need for additional care in the future.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children receive their initial orthodontic screening no later than age 7, as this is an age where your child will still have a mix of both baby and permanent teeth. While your child’s teeth may appear straight, dental problems may develop that only a trained professional can accurately diagnose and treat. By diagnosing and treating these problems early, we can reduce or eliminate complications from conditions such as:

• Jaw misalignment or TMJ disorders
• Harmful oral habits (such as finger sucking or tongue thrusting)
• Trauma due to protruding front teeth
• Airway issues
• Speech issues

Additionally, interceptive orthodontics can help guide your child’s teeth and jaws into the correct positions as they develop to ensure that they can enjoy the proper oral function as well as a healthy and well-balanced smile that will boost his or her confidence. Early preventive care can make future orthodontic treatments shorter and less complicated and in many cases produce better results than treatments that are provided later on in your child’s life.

What is Two-Phase Treatment?

Two-phase treatment is an orthodontic approach that involves treating a patient at two separate times during their growth and development. The first phase targets the jaw and bite alignment while the second phase focuses on positioning all the permanent teeth into their optimal places. This strategic timing allows us to address both structural issues and tooth alignment within the same treatment plan, ensuring the best possible outcome.

Phase One: Building the Foundation

The goal of the first phase is to help the jaw develop in a way that can accommodate all permanent teeth and improve the way the upper and lower jaws fit together. Treatment might include orthodontic appliances to guide jaw growth, correct crossbites, or prevent overcrowding as permanent teeth arrive. Starting treatment while a child is still growing helps take advantage of natural growth patterns to improve orthodontic results. It’s about laying down the right foundation for a lifetime of smiles.

Phase Two: Perfecting Your Smile

After a resting period, phase two begins once most or all of the permanent teeth have erupted. This phase usually involves braces or aligners to position every tooth perfectly for optimal aesthetics and function. Since the groundwork for a better jaw alignment was laid during phase one, phase two focuses on fine-tuning tooth positions. This ensures a harmonious bite and a stunning smile.

Retainers

Retainers are custom-made orthodontic appliances used to maintain the alignment of your teeth after orthodontic treatment. You may notice that your teeth tend to shift as you age. A retainer helps ensure that your teeth remain properly aligned, preventing them from moving back into their previous positions and allowing you to continue enjoying optimal oral health and function as well as an attractive smile. There are several types of retainers available, and our orthodontist will discuss your options with you to find the type of retainer that is right for you.

After receiving your retainer, we recommend that you:

• After receiving your retainer wear it as instructed. RETENTION IS FOR LIFE.
• Remove your retainer to eat but make sure to keep it in its case when you are not wearing it. Most retainers are lost in restaurants or school lunchrooms.
• Clean your appliance once a day with a soft toothbrush and water.
• When your retainer is not in your mouth, it should ALWAYS be in its case to prevent damage or loss.
• If your retainer is damaged or broken, please call us immediately.
• Always bring your retainer to your appointments.
• Keep your retainer away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.

If you have any questions about your retainers or the retention stage of treatment, contact us today to make an appointment with Dr. Richards in Salt Lake City and Riverton, Utah. Our team will be happy to help you!

TADs

In certain cases, Dr. Richards may recommend temporary anchorage devices (TADs), also known as “orthodontic mini implants”. This innovative orthodontic technology is effective in aligning teeth with superior results by combining traditional orthodontics with implant technology. TADs are small titanium screws that are temporarily inserted into your bone between the roots of the teeth to enhance orthodontic anchorage. TADs may be used to overcome the limitations that patients can experience with headgear or holding arches or to help carefully perform difficult tooth movements. TADs can also help avert the need for jaw surgery and help move just one or several teeth.

There is minimal or no discomfort when having a TAD inserted because the bone tissue does not have nerve endings. During your treatment, we typically use a topical anesthetic to ensure that the procedure is pain-free. In most cases, we can insert the TAD in only one appointment to our office.

Carriere Distilizer Appliance

Dr. Richards may recommend a Carriere distalizer appliance to help correct your bite and give you a smoother treatment experience. This appliance is designed to help alleviate any existing problems before you receive braces or clear aligners.

Improper bites fall into three basic classifications, varying in terms of the severity of the bite (Class I, Class II, and Class III), and including overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites. The Carriere appliance works to correct these bites and ensure your teeth have enough space to move into their proper position during your regular orthodontic treatment. The end result of treatment using the Carriere appliance should help improve your oral function as well as give you a smoother and more effective orthodontic treatment.

The Carriere orthodontic appliance allows for:

• Reduced overall treatment time
• A more comfortable treatment

Emergency Care

Dr. Richards and our team provide emergency orthodontic care to help you enjoy a more comfortable treatment experience and to help you keep progressing toward a beautiful smile.

Below are some common orthodontic emergencies, along with some instructions to help you care for your mouth and appliances if you aren’t able to meet with Dr. Richards immediately to resolve the problem:

Loose Brackets or Bands

If a bracket or band is loose it will need to be recemented. In the case of an emergency, it is possible to clip a wire using fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.

Poking Wires or Wire Irritations

If the wire is irritating your cheeks or gums, you can move it away from the irritated area by using a cotton swab or an eraser on the end of a pencil. If you cannot move the wire, cover the end of it with a small piece of wax to relieve irritation. If the wire is still painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. We recommend that you make an appointment as soon as possible to ensure your comfort and that your treatment is progressing normally.

Lost Separators

Many patients lose a separator over the course of their treatment. If you lose a separator, please make an appointment to determine if it needs to be replaced.

Discomfort With Braces & Orthodontic Treatment

During the first week after your braces are placed and after routine adjustments, you may feel some soreness or discomfort. This is normal, and you do not need to worry. You may want to take acetaminophen or another non-aspirin pain reliever if your teeth are sore.

If you experience any kind of orthodontic emergency, please call our office as soon as possible, even if you have a regular appointment scheduled soon. Our team will make arrangements for you to meet with us and take care of any appliance repairs you may need. We will also provide you with any additional instructions you may need until you arrive for your emergency appointment.