Is Phase 1 treatment really worth it?

When it's clearly indicated — severe crowding, crossbite, skeletal issues — yes. Phase 1 can prevent more complex (and expensive) Phase 2 treatment later, and sometimes eliminate the need for Phase 2 entirely. When it's not clearly indicated, we don't recommend it. Dr. Woolaver only recommends Phase 1 when the evidence supports it.

Will my child need braces again after Phase 1?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Phase 1 addresses specific issues during active growth; Phase 2 (comprehensive braces or Invisalign Teen) handles final tooth alignment when adult teeth are all in. Some children need both phases; some only need Phase 1. Dr. Woolaver will tell you what to expect at the consultation.

What if my child isn't ready for treatment yet?

We place your child in our Orthodontic Monitoring Program. Every 6–8 months, your child comes in for a brief no-charge check-in so we can track adult tooth eruption and catch developing issues early. When the timing is right for treatment, we'll tell you.

Does insurance cover Phase 1 treatment?

Yes — most major PPO plans cover Phase 1 the same way they cover comprehensive treatment. Coverage typically runs $1,000–$3,000 in lifetime orthodontic benefits per child. Call us with your insurance information and we'll verify benefits before your visit.

What happens if I delay treatment?

For most issues, waiting is fine — Phase 2 in the teen years can still correct most problems. For specific issues (crossbite, severe skeletal misalignment, narrow palate), waiting can make treatment longer or more complex later. Dr. Woolaver will tell you honestly which category your child is in.

Early Orthodontics & Phase 1 Treatment in Ahwatukee, Phoenix

A man in Suit standing and smiling after Invisalign treatment in Phoenix

Early orthodontic care can play an important role in how your child’s smile and bite develop. At Woolaver Orthodontics, Dr. Woolaver monitors jaw growth, guides erupting teeth, and helps prevent minor concerns from becoming more complex issues later.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. For most children, that first visit is reassurance — adult teeth and jaw growth are tracking normally and treatment can wait until the teen years. For some children, though, Phase 1 (early) treatment between ages 7 and 10 prevents more complex problems later. At Woolaver Orthodontics, Dr. Chris Woolaver — board-certified as a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (FRCDC) in the Ahwatukee Foothills since 2008 — gives parents an honest answer at the free evaluation: treat now, monitor with our Orthodontic Monitoring Program, or wait until later. We don't recommend Phase 1 treatment your child doesn't need. Below: when Phase 1 makes sense, what it costs, what the monitoring program looks like, and how to schedule your child's free evaluation.

Why an Age-7 Evaluation Matters

By age 7, your child has a mix of baby teeth and emerging adult teeth (called mixed dentition), and the jaw is still actively growing. This window matters because:

Adult teeth are erupting — Dr. Woolaver can see how they're coming in and whether there's room
Jaw growth can still be guided with appliances if needed (palatal expanders, partial braces)
Crossbites, severe crowding, and protruding front teeth are easier to correct now than later
Habits like thumb-sucking, mouth-breathing, or tongue thrusting can be addressed before they affect adult tooth position
Most kids leave the first visit with no recommended treatment — and their parents leave with peace of mind

The age-7 evaluation at Woolaver Orthodontics is completely free. Dr. Woolaver examines your child personally, explains what he sees in plain language, and tells you honestly whether to act now, wait, or simply monitor.

Early Orthodontics and Your Child’s Airway

How your child’s jaws and teeth develop can affect more than their smile. A narrow upper jaw or an underdeveloped lower jaw can leave less room for the tongue and may be linked to concerns like mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep and poor sleep quality. Because a child’s jaw is still growing, the early years are the best time to look at how their bite and airway develop together.

At your child’s free evaluation, Dr. Woolaver checks the width of the upper jaw, tongue posture, how the teeth come together and how your child breathes at rest. Let us know if you’ve noticed any of these signs:

Breathing through the mouth, awake or asleep
Snoring or restless sleep
Daytime tiredness or trouble focusing
Frequent dry mouth
A narrow smile or crowded front teeth

When a narrow upper jaw is part of the picture, early treatment with a palatal expander can create more room for erupting teeth and the tongue, and it may help support nasal breathing. If Dr. Woolaver sees signs that need a closer look, he may recommend coordinating with your pediatrician or an ENT, and a sleep study when appropriate.

Learn more on our airway orthodontics page.

Is Phase 1 Treatment Right for Your Child?

Phase 1 treatment isn't for every child, and we'd rather monitor than over-treat. Phase 1 is typically recommended when Dr. Woolaver sees:

Severe crowding — adult teeth don't have enough room to come in
Crossbites — upper teeth fitting inside lower teeth (front or back)
Significant overbite or underbite with skeletal involvement
Narrow upper jaw that benefits from a palatal expander
Habits affecting tooth position — thumb-sucking, tongue thrust, mouth-breathing
Premature loss of baby teeth that may cause adult teeth to drift
Protruding front teeth at risk of injury during sports

If your child shows none of these or they're mild and likely to resolve naturally, Dr. Woolaver will recommend our Orthodontic Monitoring Program instead.

Our Orthodontic Monitoring Program

Many kids fall in the "not yet, but maybe later" range — adult teeth still erupting, jaw growth still in progress, no clear indication for treatment yet. Other practices send those kids home with "come back if something changes." We do something different.

The Orthodontic Monitoring Program keeps your child in our care between the first evaluation and the time treatment is actually needed. Every 6–8 months, your child comes in for a brief check-in (no charge) so Dr. Woolaver can:

Track adult tooth eruption
Watch for jaw growth changes
Catch developing problems early
Reassure you that nothing is being missed

When the timing is right for treatment — Phase 1, comprehensive braces, or Invisalign Teen — Dr. Woolaver will tell you. Until then, your child stays on our radar without paying for treatment they don't need.

What Phase 1 Treatment Looks Like

Phase 1 treatment is shorter and more targeted than full braces. Most cases run 6–12 months using one or more of these appliances:

Palatal expander — gently widens a narrow upper jaw to make room for adult teeth (usually 6–9 months)
Partial braces — brackets on a few key teeth to align them or guide eruption
Space maintainers — hold space for adult teeth when a baby tooth is lost early
Habit appliances — discourage thumb-sucking or tongue thrust
Headgear or face mask — for specific skeletal corrections (less common)

After Phase 1, there's typically a rest period (1–4 years) while remaining adult teeth come in. Some children need Phase 2 (comprehensive braces or Invisalign Teen) later; others don't need anything else.

Why a Specialist Matters for Phase 1

Phase 1 treatment decisions are nuanced — they balance current bite issues against ongoing jaw growth and tooth eruption that haven't happened yet. Dr. Woolaver completed a full three-year orthodontic specialty residency focused entirely on tooth movement, jaw growth, and bite correction. The judgment calls — "Is this child ready?", "Will this resolve on its own?", "What appliance will work without affecting later treatment?" — are exactly what specialist training prepares for.

A general dentist who offers braces as a side service typically learns the basics in continuing-education courses. For Phase 1 specifically — where the wrong call can mean unnecessary treatment now or missed opportunities for prevention — specialist judgment matters most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about early orthodontic treatment? These answers can help you better understand what to expect.