{"id":151,"date":"2026-10-22T08:09:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T08:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/?p=151"},"modified":"2026-10-22T08:09:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T08:09:18","slug":"can-my-child-still-get-braces-on-their-baby-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/can-my-child-still-get-braces-on-their-baby-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Can My Child Still Get Braces on Their Baby Teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When you think of braces, you probably picture teenagers with a mouthful of metal and a countdown to their perfect smile. But did you know some children can benefit from orthodontic treatment before they’ve lost all their baby teeth? While early braces<\/a> aren’t necessary for every child, addressing certain dental development concerns sooner can make a meaningful difference. Here’s what parents should know about Phase 1 orthodontics and how it can help a growing smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Is Phase 1 Orthodontics?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Phase 1 orthodontics, also called early interceptive orthodontics, is treatment designed to address specific alignment, bite, or jaw development concerns while a child still has a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth. Treatment often begins between ages 6 and 9, when the mouth and jaws are still developing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike comprehensive orthodontic treatment, which typically focuses on aligning the teeth after most permanent teeth have erupted, Phase 1 treatment aims to guide development and address certain problems early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not every child needs early intervention. Some children can simply have their teeth monitored until they’re ready for braces later. An orthodontic evaluation around age 7 can help determine whether treatment is appropriate or whether observation is the better choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Might a Child Need Early Braces?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Children may benefit from Phase 1 orthodontics when certain dental or jaw concerns are identified during development. These can include significant crowding, protruding front teeth, or bite problems such as an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other potential signs include difficulty chewing, early or late loss of baby teeth, and a jaw that appears disproportionate to the rest of the face. Persistent thumb-sucking habits can also affect tooth positioning and jaw development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early treatment may help create room for permanent teeth, guide jaw growth, or reduce the risk of certain orthodontic problems becoming more complicated. For example, correcting a crossbite early may help support more balanced development as a child grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, early treatment doesn’t guarantee that a child will avoid braces later. Some children will still need a second phase of orthodontic treatment once their permanent teeth have erupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does Phase 1 Orthodontic Treatment Involve?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The process begins with an orthodontic evaluation. Your provider will examine your child’s teeth, bite, and jaw development and may use X-rays or digital impressions to better understand what’s happening beneath the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If treatment is recommended, the approach will depend on your child’s individual needs. Options may include limited braces on selected teeth, a palatal expander to widen the upper jaw, or a space maintainer to preserve room for a permanent tooth after a baby tooth is lost too early. Other orthodontic appliances may be recommended to address specific bite or jaw concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treatment often lasts around 9 to 12 months, although the timeline varies depending on the complexity of the problem and the appliances used. Afterward, your orthodontist will continue monitoring your child’s development to determine whether additional treatment is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can Early Orthodontics Help Your Child?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest advantages of Phase 1 orthodontics is the opportunity to address certain problems while the jaw is still growing. Early intervention may improve bite alignment, create space for incoming permanent teeth, and reduce the complexity or duration of later orthodontic treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Correcting protruding front teeth may also help reduce their vulnerability to accidental injury. Addressing certain bite issues can support more comfortable chewing and healthier tooth positioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, every child develops differently, and treatment decisions should be based on individual needs rather than age alone. Your orthodontist can help you understand the potential benefits, limitations, and timing of treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give Your Child’s Growing Smile a Head Start<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An early orthodontic evaluation can help you understand your child’s needs and determine whether Phase 1 treatment could make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Buckhead Orthodontics in Atlanta, Georgia, provides orthodontic care for children and adults. Dr. Michael Everson, an American Board of Orthodontics-certified orthodontist, works alongside Dr. Cristina Everson, a general dentist, to help patients achieve healthy, confident smiles. The practice offers Phase 1 pediatric orthodontics to address developing alignment and bite concerns, helping families explore treatment options tailored to their child’s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call us at (404) 697-7497<\/a> or schedule your appointment online<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you think of braces, you probably picture teenagers with a mouthful of metal and a countdown to their perfect smile. But did you know some children can benefit from orthodontic treatment before they’ve lost all their baby teeth? While early braces aren’t necessary for every child, addressing certain dental development concerns sooner can make […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=151"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":153,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151\/revisions\/153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buckheadorthodontics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}