Phase 1 Early Treatment in Neptune Beach

Visit a trusted orthodontist in Neptune Beach—providing personalized, advanced orthodontic care to create healthy, confident smiles for patients of all ages.

Your child’s smile journey can start earlier than you think. While many families assume braces are strictly for teenagers, phase 1 early treatment tackles developing bite and jaw issues when children still have a mix of baby and permanent teeth, typically between ages 7 and 10.

At Lazzara Orthodontics, we help Neptune Beach families address orthodontic concerns at the ideal time for your child’s development. Dr. John Lazzara and Dr. Amy Poblenz are both board-certified orthodontists with years of specialized training beyond dental school, allowing them to identify and correct problems before they become more complex. Our Jacksonville Beach location serves families throughout Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Atlantic Beach, making quality early treatment convenient and accessible.

Understanding Phase 1 Treatment

Phase 1 orthodontics is interceptive care for children during their mixed dentition stage. This means your child has both baby teeth and emerging permanent teeth. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist by age 7, as this is when we can best detect issues with jaw growth or tooth development.

This early intervention doesn’t mean your child will wear full braces for years. Instead, we use specialized appliances and techniques to guide jaw growth, create space for incoming teeth, and address bite problems while your child’s mouth is still developing. The goal is to make any future treatment shorter and less invasive, or eliminate the need for phase 2 treatment altogether.

Common Issues We Address

Phase 1 treatment can correct several developing problems. Severe crowding occurs when permanent teeth don’t have adequate space to erupt properly, potentially leading to impacted teeth or misalignment. Bite problems such as crossbites, underbites, and severe overbites respond better to treatment during growth years, when we can still guide jaw development.

Jaw discrepancies between the upper and lower jaw can affect your child’s facial development, speech, and chewing ability. Early loss of baby teeth from decay or injury can cause nearby teeth to shift and block the space needed for adult teeth. We also address harmful oral habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting that can affect jaw growth and tooth position.

Treatment Options for Growing Smiles

We offer several treatment approaches based on your child’s specific needs. Each option is chosen to address your child’s unique developmental concerns while supporting healthy growth. Phase 1 early treatment includes:

Palatal expanders: These appliances widen the upper jaw to create more room for permanent teeth. This appliance fits against the roof of the mouth and applies gentle, gradual pressure. Because children’s jaws are still developing, expansion is most effective during phase 1, helping us avoid tooth extractions or surgical procedures later.
Partial braces: We may place braces on select teeth to improve alignment, close gaps, or make room for adult teeth. For younger patients, we typically focus on the front teeth to guide proper alignment while supporting your child’s confidence.
Space maintainers: When baby teeth are lost too early, space maintainers hold the gap open until permanent teeth are ready to emerge. This simple appliance prevents neighboring teeth from drifting and blocking the space needed for adult teeth.
Functional appliances: These devices help guide jaw growth and improve bite relationships. By working with your child’s natural growth patterns, we can achieve results that might require surgery if addressed later.

Treatment continues throughout the growth phase while we closely monitor your child’s development. We’ll adjust appliances as needed and keep you informed about progress every step of the way.

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Benefits That Last a Lifetime

Early orthodontic intervention offers advantages that extend well beyond childhood. Treatment during the growth years can guide proper jaw development, potentially eliminating the need for later jaw surgery. Creating adequate space for permanent teeth reduces the likelihood of crowding, impacted teeth, and the need for extractions.

Correcting bite problems early improves your child’s ability to chew and speak properly. Addressing these issues during development results in simpler, shorter treatment than waiting until all permanent teeth have erupted. Many children also experience improved confidence when visible alignment issues are corrected early.

Phase 1 treatment typically lasts 9 to 12 months, though duration varies based on your child’s specific needs. After treatment, most children enter a resting period where we monitor their development as the remaining permanent teeth erupt naturally. Not every child who completes phase 1 will need phase 2 treatment, but when necessary, phase 2 is typically shorter and less complex.

Why Choose Board-Certified Care

Both Dr. Lazzara and Dr. Poblenz are Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics, making Lazzara Orthodontics one of the only practices in northeast Florida with two board-certified doctors. This certification represents the highest level of orthodontic achievement and demonstrates their commitment to excellence in patient care.

Dr. Lazzara earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the LSU School of Dentistry in 1996 and completed a 3-year orthodontic residency at St. Louis University, where he earned his Master of Science. Dr. Poblenz graduated from Nova Southeastern University with her DMD in 2009, completed a craniofacial research fellowship working alongside plastic surgeons on cleft lip and palate repairs, and then earned her Master of Science degree and certification in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics from Nova Southeastern University in 2012.

Schedule Your Child's Evaluation at Lazzara Orthodontics

The best time to evaluate your child’s orthodontic needs is around age 7, when their jaw development patterns become clear. Our team provides comprehensive examinations that include digital X-rays and a thorough assessment of your child’s teeth, jaw, and bite. We’ll explain our findings in detail and discuss whether phase 1 treatment could benefit your child’s development.

We work with most major insurance providers and offer flexible financing options, including in-house financing with down payments as low as $400. Our Jacksonville Beach office welcomes families from Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Atlantic Beach, providing quality orthodontic care close to home. Virtual consultations are also available for your convenience. Contact us today to schedule your child’s complimentary consultation and take the first step in their smile journey.

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Visit Our Jax Beach Office

We’re conveniently located in Jacksonville Beach, FL, at 436 Jacksonville Drive, just minutes from the ocean. Enjoy our modern, comfortable office with ample parking available, and easy access from throughout Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and Neptune Beach for a stress-free orthodontic visit.