ORTHO BITES INTERCEPTIVE Orthodontics By David Jackson, DDS, FAGD, IBO T o treat Phase I or not to treat Phase I! That is the question! Clinicians deal with this dilemma every day. My philosophy is simple – I ask myself, “What would I do if it were my child?” A New World All three of the cases presented could have been treated with only orthodontics at a later age, instead of Phase I at a young age. But, times have changed and we now live in an extremely social environment which presents its own set of unique situations. Children no longer wear blue jeans with double padded knees, white t-shirts, and black high-top tennis shoes or any of the other things that were popular when I was their age. Both boys and girls are conscious of their looks and Fig. 2 Fig. 1 spend a substantial amount of their parent’s money on fashionable items in order to look the best they can. Let’s face it, young children wear designer jeans, worry about facial blemishes, ignore the barber shop opting instead for a beauty salon, and spend time and money to look as good as they can. So why would we do all of that for our children and ignore their smile? Dentistry and orthodontics are discretionary expense choices. But then, so are the other items listed above. Young people are fully aware that their smile can either make or break them socially. It seems that they get savvier and more self-conscious at a younger age each 38 March/April 2011 JAOS
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society March-April 2011: Page 38
