When a child’s permanent teeth begin to emerge, the jaw may not have enough room to accommodate them. Crowding, shifting, and misalignment can follow, and left unaddressed, those issues tend to grow more complex over time. The good news is that orthodontic treatment during childhood, before the jaw fully matures, gives dentists a meaningful window to guide growth in a healthier direction.
At Floss & Company, Dr. Catherine Murphy and Dr. Martha Silva work closely with young patients and their families to assess jaw development and determine when to intervene. Their approach goes beyond straightening teeth. Every orthodontic consultation at Floss & Company includes an airway assessment, because how a child breathes and sleeps is just as important as how their smile looks.
Why Timing Matters in Children’s Orthodontic Treatment
Children’s jaws are still developing, which makes early intervention particularly effective. Unlike adult bone, a child’s jaw responds readily to gentle, consistent pressure, allowing orthodontic appliances to guide growth rather than force correction after the fact. This is the core principle behind Phase 1 orthodontics, also called early interceptive treatment.
What Phase 1 Orthodontics Addresses
Early orthodontic treatment is typically recommended for children between the ages of 7 and 10, before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. The goal is to create the space those incoming teeth will need. Common issues treated at this stage include crossbites, underbites, severe crowding, and narrow arches. By treating these conditions early, we reduce the likelihood of more involved treatment later and, in many cases, make future treatment shorter and more straightforward.
How Palatal Expansion Works
One of the most common tools in early orthodontics is a palatal expander, a device that gently widens the upper jaw over a period of months. Because a child’s palate hasn’t yet fused, gradual pressure can actually expand the bone itself, not just shift the teeth. A 2024 study published in PubMed Central found that children who received early palatal expansion showed significantly better outcomes in correcting maxillary crowding than those who received late orthodontic treatment, reinforcing the value of intervening during the growth window. Once the jaw has widened, newly erupted teeth have the room they need to come in properly.
How Palate Expansion Can Improve Breathing and Sleep in Children
One detail that often surprises parents is how closely jaw structure is tied to breathing. A narrow upper arch doesn’t just crowd teeth; it can also restrict the nasal airway, contributing to mouth breathing, snoring, and disrupted sleep in children. This is why airway-focused orthodontics is at the heart of what we do at Floss & Company.
When we expand the palate and create more room in the upper jaw, we’re also widening the floor of the nasal cavity. Many children who complete early orthodontic treatment breathe more freely as a result. For families who have noticed signs of pediatric sleep apnea or poor sleep quality in their child, this connection is worth exploring with our team.
What to Expect After Phase 1
Phase 1 treatment typically lasts 9 to 18 months, followed by a resting period during which we monitor the development of the remaining permanent teeth. Some children will need Phase 2 treatment, such as braces or clear aligners, once all permanent teeth have erupted. However, Phase 1 often considerably reduces the complexity and duration of the second phase.
Here are some of the outcomes families commonly see after early orthodontic treatment:
- More space: Permanent teeth have room to erupt without crowding or twisting
- Improved bite: Crossbites and underbites are corrected while the jaw is most responsive
- Better breathing: A widened arch supports improved nasal airflow
- Shorter Phase 2: With space already established, later orthodontic treatment is often simpler
Completing early treatment gives a child’s smile a much stronger foundation to build on in the years ahead.
Start Your Child’s Smile Off Right at Floss & Company
Orthodontic treatment for growing children works best when it starts at the right time, and our team is here to help you figure out when that is. Dr. Murphy and Dr. Silva bring both clinical skill and genuine care to every young patient they see, taking the time to understand each child’s development before recommending any treatment. Floss & Company also offers flexible financing through CareCredit and Lending Club, making it easier for families to move forward without financial hesitation.
If you’re wondering whether your child could benefit from early orthodontic care, we’d love to take a closer look. Reach out to our team to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a healthier, more confident smile for your child.