Damon Bracket System
An ordinary metal bracket has to be "tied in" or secured to the arch wire with elastic bands or small stainless steel wires. The Damon bracket is self-ligating, meaning it has a built in "sliding door" that secures the bracket to the wire.

The impact of this difference is that instead of using elastic bands that grab the wire like a "parking brake," the self-ligating bracket allows the wire to slide through the braces freely. This translates into less pressure, more comfort and faster treatment.

Another great benefit is that since the Damon brackets work more efficiently, they require fewer adjustments and fewer office visits than the ordinary metal bracket.

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Two Phase Orthodontics - A Special Kind of Treatment

First Phase Treatment (Interceptive)

THE GOAL OF THE FIRST PHASE OF TREATMENT IS TO DEVELOP BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER JAWS SUFFICIENTLY TO ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THE PERMANENT TEETH.

Children sometimes exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop. An upper or lower jaw that is growing too much or not enough or is too wide or too narrow can be recognized at an early age. If children over 8 years of age have these jaw discrepancies, they are usually candidates for early orthodontic/orthopedic evaluation and treatment.

Because children are growing rapidly, they can benefit enormously from an early (interceptive) phase of orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic appliances can be used to correct the jaw shape and direct the growth toward an ideal relationship between the upper and lower jaws. A good foundation can be established thereby providing adequate room for eruption of all the permanent teeth.

Early interceptive treatment may prevent:

1. The later removal of permanent teeth to correct over-crowding.
2. Surgical procedures to align the upper and lower jaws.

Depending on the severity of the problems, interceptive treatment may also decrease the length of time necessary for the second phase of treatment. Leaving a malocclusion untreated until all of the permanent teeth erupt could result in a jaw discrepancy too severe to allow achievement of an ideal result with braces alone.

Diagnostic records will be necessary to determine a treatment plan, the type of appliances needed and the duration of treatment. Typically, Phase One treatment last approximately 12-14 months. Regular check ups are usually 4-8 weeks apart.

Intermediate Retention Period

During this period the remaining permanent teeth are allowed to erupt. Retention and /or tooth guidance appliances may be recommended at the end of the first phase. Sometimes retainers are used for a short time only as they may interfere with the eruption of the adult teeth.

In this case it is best to allow the existing permanent teeth some freedom of movement while final eruption of the teeth takes place. A successful first phase will have created enough room for the teeth to find an adequate eruption path and prevent impaction and displacement problems.

It is important to understand that at the end of the first phase of treatment, teeth are not in their final positions. This will be accomplished in the second (corrective) phase of treatment.

Selective removal of certain primary (baby) teeth may be in the best interest of enhancing eruption during this resting phase. Should this be necessary , it will be discussed with you and a recommendation will be sent to your dentist. Periodic recall appointments for observation will continue to be necessary throughout this intermediate phase on a four to eight month basis.

Occasionally when a patient is treated with a two-phase treatment program, the permanent teeth erupt more rapidly that anticipated. Should this occur, you will be advised and the patient will continue directly into the second phase of treatment without removal of the orthodontic appliances.

Second Phase Treatment (Corrective)

Each tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the cheeks , tongue, jaws, jaw joints and other teeth. When this equilibrium is established, the teeth will function together properly. With good home care and retainer wear, your teeth should stay healthy, stable, comfortable and look attractive. This is the goal of the second (corrective) phase of treatment.

Updated diagnostic records will need to be taken and a Phase Two treatment plan made. Certain types of appliances were used in the first phase of treatment as dictated by the problem. The second phase is initiated when most of the permanent teeth have erupted and usually requires braces on all the teeth for a period of 18-24 months. Retainers are worn after this phase to hold the teeth in their new corrected positions.

Advantages of Two-Phase Orthodontic/Orthopedic Treatment

THE TWO-PHASE ORTHODONTIC/ORTHOPEDIC TREATMENT IS A VERY SPECIALIZED PROCESS THAT ENCOMPASSES JAW AND FACIAL CHANGES (ORTHOPEDICS) AND TOOTH STRAIGHTENING (ORTHODONTICS.)

The emphasis today on living longer, staying healthy and looking attractive requires optimum treatment results. The major advantage of two-phase treatment is to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, aesthetic and comfortable result that will remain stable.

The disadvantage to waiting for complete eruption of the permanent teeth and having only one phase of treatment is the possibility of a compromised result that may not be functionally healthy or stable and may require preventable adult tooth extraction or jaw surgery.

We hope that this information has helped you understand our "two-phase" philosophy. Please do not hesitate to ask us any questions that may assist you in understanding our treatment concepts.