Early Orthodontic Treatment in Henderson & Las Vegas
Also called Phase 1. Here is what it is, the specific situations where it genuinely helps, and why most children do not need it at all.
What is Phase 1 orthodontic treatment?
Phase 1 is a short, targeted course of orthodontic treatment for children who still have a mix of baby and permanent teeth, usually between ages six and ten. It typically runs nine to eighteen months.
The goal is not to straighten every tooth. That comes later, if it is needed at all. Phase 1 addresses one specific developmental problem while the jaw is still growing and still responsive — guiding bone development, creating room for permanent teeth to arrive, or correcting something that would become considerably harder to fix once growth stops.
Afterwards, your child enters a monitoring period, often one to three years, while the remaining permanent teeth come in. Some children then need Phase 2 — comprehensive braces or Invisalign in the early teens. Others do not.
The honest version, which we will tell you at the consult: most children do not need Phase 1. The majority only ever need one course of treatment, in their teens. Dr. Beth recommends early treatment when there is a clear clinical reason, and says so plainly when there is not.
Why age seven for the first visit?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child have an orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Parents often assume this means braces at seven. It does not.
Seven is simply the age at which enough permanent teeth have arrived for an orthodontist to read where things are heading. The first molars and incisors are usually in, which establishes the back-to-front bite relationship and reveals whether there will be enough room for everything still to come.
Crucially, it is early enough that the jaw is still growing. Some corrections are straightforward at eight and require surgery at eighteen — not because the problem changed, but because the window for guiding growth closed.
So the visit at seven is diagnostic. For most children, the outcome is simply: everything looks fine, come back in eighteen months and we will look again.
Signs early treatment may be worth considering
These are the situations where waiting genuinely costs something. If you notice any of them, bring your child in sooner rather than at the next check-up.
Crossbite
Upper teeth sitting inside the lower teeth when biting down. Often causes the jaw to shift sideways to close, and correcting it early can prevent asymmetric jaw growth.
Severe crowding
Clearly not enough room for permanent teeth arriving. Guiding jaw width early can create space and sometimes avoids extractions later.
Protruding front teeth
Upper front teeth that stick out noticeably are considerably more likely to be chipped or knocked out in a fall or during sport.
Underbite
Lower jaw sitting ahead of the upper. This is one of the clearest cases for early intervention, because it is largely a growth issue.
Thumb sucking past age five
Prolonged thumb sucking or tongue thrusting can reshape the developing bite. Addressing the habit early often prevents the problem entirely.
Early or late tooth loss
Baby teeth lost well ahead of schedule, or stubbornly retained, can let neighbouring teeth drift into space a permanent tooth needs.
Mouth breathing or snoring
Persistent mouth breathing can affect how the upper jaw develops. Worth mentioning at the evaluation, as it sometimes points to something beyond orthodontics.
Difficulty chewing or biting
If your child struggles to bite into food or chews on only one side, the bite may not be meeting the way it should.
Jaw shifting or clicking
A jaw that visibly slides to one side to close, or clicks audibly, is worth having examined during the growth years.
What Phase 1 treatment actually looks like
Early treatment rarely means a full set of braces. It usually means one appliance doing one job.
Palatal expander
A custom device fitted to the roof of the mouth that gradually widens the upper jaw. It works because the palate has not yet fused in young children, which is exactly why it is done at this age and not later. Parents turn a small key at home on a schedule we set.
Partial braces
Brackets on a limited number of teeth — often just the front six — to correct a specific alignment issue without treating the whole mouth. Shorter, simpler and less expensive than comprehensive braces.
Space maintainers
A small fixed appliance that holds open the gap left by a baby tooth lost too early, so neighbouring teeth cannot drift into the space the permanent tooth needs.
Habit appliances
A gentle fixed reminder that interrupts thumb sucking or tongue thrusting. Not a punishment — simply removes the sensation that makes the habit satisfying, which usually resolves it within months.
Free evaluation
Photos, a 3D iCAT scan and an exam. Dr. Beth reviews the scan on screen with you and explains what she is seeing in plain language.
A clear recommendation
Either a specific reason to treat now, with the appliance, timeline and fee in writing — or a recommendation to monitor, with a check-in scheduled.
Active treatment
Usually nine to eighteen months, with short adjustment visits every four to eight weeks. We hold after-school slots so this does not eat into class time.
Monitoring period
One to three years while the remaining permanent teeth arrive. We see your child periodically at no charge to track how things are developing.
Phase 2, only if needed
If comprehensive treatment is warranted once all permanent teeth are in, we quote it then. Many children who complete Phase 1 need a shorter Phase 2 than they otherwise would have.
How to tell whether Phase 1 is really necessary
Early treatment is the area of orthodontics most open to over-recommendation, and parents are right to be a little sceptical. Two phases cost more than one, and the recommendation is being made by the person who would be paid for it.
So ask directly: what specifically gets worse if we wait? A good answer names a particular problem and explains why the growth window matters for it. A vague answer about getting ahead of things is not a clinical reason.
You are also entitled to a second opinion, and any orthodontist worth seeing will say so without taking offence. Dr. Beth will give you your records to take elsewhere if you ask.
Our position. We would rather monitor your child for three years and treat once, at the right moment, than start early to fill a chair. Sending families home with “not yet” is a normal outcome here, not a failed appointment.
Early orthodontic treatment FAQ
At what age should my child first see an orthodontist?
By age seven, per the American Association of Orthodontists. By then the first molars and incisors have usually arrived, which lets an orthodontist assess the bite relationship and whether there will be room for the permanent teeth still to come. Most seven-year-olds do not need treatment — the visit is diagnostic.
Does my child definitely need Phase 1 treatment?
Most children do not. The majority need only one course of treatment, in their teens. Phase 1 is recommended when a specific problem is identified that will get materially worse without early intervention, such as a crossbite, underbite or severe crowding. If there is no clear clinical reason, monitoring is the right call.
How long does Phase 1 treatment take?
Typically nine to eighteen months of active treatment, depending on what is being corrected. That is followed by a monitoring period of roughly one to three years while the remaining permanent teeth come in.
Will my child still need braces later?
Possibly. Phase 1 addresses a specific developmental problem, not overall alignment, so many children go on to a Phase 2 course of braces or Invisalign in their early teens. Phase 2 is often shorter and simpler than it would have been without the early work.
Does a palatal expander hurt?
Children usually report pressure rather than pain, mostly in the first few days and for a short while after each turn. Speech and eating feel odd for about a week and then normalise. Most kids adapt considerably faster than their parents expect.
How much does early orthodontic treatment cost?
Phase 1 is quoted separately from any later Phase 2 treatment, and it costs less than a comprehensive course because it is shorter and usually involves a single appliance. We provide the exact fee in writing at the free evaluation, and offer monthly payments at 0% APR with no credit check.
Is the first evaluation really free?
Yes. It includes photos, a 3D iCAT scan and Dr. Beth’s exam, with no charge and no obligation. If the recommendation is to wait, you owe nothing and we schedule a follow-up to keep watching.
Does dental insurance cover Phase 1?
Many plans do, though most carry a single lifetime orthodontic maximum that applies across both phases — so using part of it now leaves less for Phase 2. We verify your specific plan before treatment starts and will walk you through how the benefit is best applied.
You will see Dr. Beth at every single visit
Beth’s Braces is a single practice, not a group with rotating providers. The person who plans your treatment is the person who adjusts it, start to finish.
Our assistants have been here the better part of a decade, so they know your case without pulling the chart. English, Tagalog and German are all spoken at the desk.
Bring them in. We will tell you honestly whether it is time.
A free evaluation with Dr. Beth, a gentle 3D scan, and a straight answer — including “not yet,” which is what most families hear.