TREATMENT INFO

Two Phase Treatment

Early Treatment.

Early Treatment is not possible if Dr. Cash sees a patient for the first time at age 11 or 12.  Early Diagnosis -- at age 7 or 8 -- is crucial.  Dr. Cash is very likely to recommend early intervention for patients who have one or more of the following problems:

  • severe crowding
  • harmful habits including thumb or finger sucking
  • skeletal discrepancies including crossbite or and overgrowth or undergrowth of one jaw
  • protrusion of the upper front teeth

The goals of Early Treatment are to:

  • correct any skeletal discrepancies
  • alleviate crowding
  • align the upper and lower incisors (four front teeth on top and bottom)
  • correct harmful habits

When these goals are accomplished, the jaws are aligned and the permanent teeth that are still developing have enough space in which to erupt. The retainer which follows Early Treatment assists in the Eruption Guidance of these teeth. Depending on patient compliance, as well as other factors, a second stage of treatment is often necessary after all the remaining permanent teeth come in.

Early Treatment typically last for about one year and frequently includes a Rapid Palatal Expander and well as partial braces. The Eruption Guidance period which follows varies in length based on when Early Treatment was begun. Eruption Guidance ends when all the permanent teeth have come in.

Finishing Treatment.

When all the permanent teeth have come in, they may or may not be aligned ideally. If there is misalignment, it is usually corrected with a short period -- about one year -- in full braces. Occasionally Finishing Treatment includes an appliance other than braces, like the Herbst for example, because it must be used with a strong growth spurt which usually occurs around adolscence.  After all appliances are removed, the Retention period begins.