Treatments
Early Orthodontics
Some problems are much easier to correct when growth is still on your side. We look at the whole picture — and tell you honestly whether early treatment is actually warranted.
What It Is
Interceptive care — while there's still room to guide
Early orthodontic treatment — sometimes called Phase 1 — refers to orthodontic intervention that happens before all of a child's permanent teeth have come in, typically between ages 7 and 10. Its goal isn't to finish treatment early. It's to take advantage of a developmental window where certain corrections are far simpler than they would be later.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an initial orthodontic evaluation by age 7. At our Evanston practice, Dr. Kim can assess how the jaw and bite are developing, identify patterns that are likely to cause problems, and determine whether intervention now is genuinely beneficial — or whether watchful waiting is the right approach.
Not every child who comes in needs early treatment. We'll tell you clearly which category your child falls into — and we won't recommend treatment to fill a schedule.
What We're Evaluating
Issues that benefit most from early intervention
Not all orthodontic problems benefit from early treatment. But certain conditions respond significantly better — and with less invasive intervention — when caught during early development.
Crossbites
When upper teeth sit inside lower teeth, early correction with an expander can guide jaw development into proper alignment — an outcome that becomes much harder, and sometimes requires surgery, once growth is complete.
Severe crowding
Creating space for incoming permanent teeth now can reduce or eliminate the need for extractions later.
Jaw discrepancies
Significant differences in jaw size or position are most responsive to treatment while the jaw is still growing. Early guidance can reduce the severity of the discrepancy before comprehensive treatment begins.
Habits affecting development
Prolonged thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting, or pacifier use can alter jaw development over time. Early evaluation identifies whether these habits have caused changes that should be addressed.
Airway concerns
Mouth breathing, snoring, or signs of airway restriction in children are worth evaluating early. Jaw and airway development are closely linked — and this is a window where intervention can have meaningful long-term health impact.
Asymmetry
Significant differences between the left and right sides of the jaw or face can sometimes be guided during active growth, minimizing the degree of asymmetry that develops.
What Phase 1 Treatment Looks Like
Focused. Time-limited. Goal-oriented.
Palatal expansion
A palatal expander widens the upper jaw to create space for incoming teeth and correct crossbites. It works by gradually separating the two halves of the palate — something that becomes much more difficult once growth plates fuse in adolescence.
Limited bracket placement
In some cases, brackets are placed on just a few teeth — typically the front four or six — to correct specific issues without beginning full comprehensive treatment.
Space maintainers
If a baby tooth is lost early, a space maintainer holds the gap open for the permanent tooth. Without it, neighboring teeth drift into the space, complicating future alignment.
Watchful waiting
For many children, the right answer at the first evaluation is to monitor — not treat. We track development over time and intervene only when intervention is genuinely warranted.
Phases of Treatment
Phase 1 and Phase 2 — how they relate
Phase 1 treats specific, time-sensitive issues. Phase 2 is comprehensive orthodontic treatment — typically braces or aligners once most permanent teeth have come in — that addresses the full bite and alignment picture.
Phase 1 doesn't replace Phase 2. But for children who need it, it simplifies what Phase 2 has to accomplish — and sometimes reduces its duration significantly. In some cases, successful early intervention means Phase 2 is less extensive or easier to complete.
We'll be clear with you from the beginning about whether Phase 1 is genuinely expected to make Phase 2 simpler — or whether it's just adding treatment time with limited benefit.
Schedule an Evaluation
Age 7 is the recommended time to take a first look.
An early evaluation is not a commitment to treatment. It's a conversation — and the information you get from it is valuable whether or not intervention is needed now.