Traditional comprehensive orthodontic treatment (full or one stage treatment) simply refers to treatment initiated after the baby teeth are no longer present. Treatment initiated for most adolescents and adults fall in this category.
These days, it is common to see many younger patients with braces on both permanent and baby teeth. However, not all patients benefit from early treatment, or two-phase treatment, instead of the traditional orthodontic treatment approach. Appropriate orthodontic treatment is not a “one size fits all” approach. Each patient has unique needs and requires a customized treatment plan to achieve an ideal result.
For this reason, the American Association of Orthodontists has educated the public for many years to seek an orthodontic evaluation no later than 7 years of age, or at the first recognition of the existence of an orthodontic problem. The majority of orthodontic cases are traditional one-phase treatments.