Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
Early orthodontic intervention in Pompano Beach starts with a simple check at South Florida Smile Spa around age seven, when the first permanent molars and front teeth are in and the shape of the adult bite is already visible. Most children checked at that age need nothing but a note to look again next year. A minority have a crossbite, a severely crowded or protruding front, a thumb habit that is reshaping the jaw, or a baby tooth blocking an adult one, and for them a short, simple treatment now avoids a longer and harder one at thirteen. This page explains what Dr. Nicole M. Berger looks for at the age-seven screening, which problems are worth treating early and which are not, what interceptive treatment involves, and when a child is referred to an orthodontist.
Quick answer
Early intervention, also called interceptive or Phase 1 orthodontics, is treatment between about ages seven and ten that guides jaw growth and tooth eruption while the child is still growing, rather than straightening every tooth. Dr. Berger screens every child at the age-seven exam, as the American Association of Orthodontists recommends, and most need only monitoring. Treatment is worth doing early for a crossbite, a very narrow upper jaw, front teeth that stick out and are at risk of injury, severe crowding, a thumb or tongue habit, and baby teeth that are lost too early or will not fall out. At South Florida Smile Spa the orthodontic treatment offered in-house is Invisalign, including Invisalign First for growing mouths, and the retainers that follow it; a space maintainer for a baby tooth lost early is routine children’s dentistry. Expanders, habit appliances, braces and jaw-growth appliances are referred to an orthodontist we work with. Early treatment typically lasts six to twelve months, followed by a rest period and a shorter Phase 2 in the teens if one is still needed.
Age Seven
Early orthodontic intervention in Pompano Beach: what the age-seven check looks for
By seven the first adult molars have locked in the back of the bite and the adult front teeth are coming through, so the way the jaws meet and the room available for the remaining adult teeth can be judged. The screening takes a few minutes during a regular check-up and uses the panoramic X-ray taken at that age.
- Crossbite. Upper teeth biting inside the lowers, at the front or side. Often from a narrow upper jaw, and the one problem almost always treated early, because it shifts the jaw and wears the teeth asymmetrically.
- Protruding front teeth. Upper front teeth far ahead of the lowers are at real risk of being chipped or knocked out in a fall; reducing the overjet early protects them.
- Severe crowding or spacing. A panoramic X-ray shows whether the adult teeth have room. Mild crowding is left alone; severe crowding may need space held or created.
- Habits. Thumb-sucking, finger-sucking or tongue-thrusting past age six reshapes the front of the mouth and the bite, and stopping the habit early lets much of it self-correct.
- Teeth lost early or stuck. A baby tooth lost early lets neighbors drift into the space; a baby tooth that will not fall out, or an adult tooth coming in off course, can be guided with a space maintainer or a simple extraction.
- Underbite. A lower jaw growing ahead of the upper is best assessed early, since some of it responds only while the child is young, and is referred for an orthodontic opinion.
The American Dental Association’s page on braces and orthodontics describes the same early check and why timing matters while the jaw is still growing.
Treat now, or wait? How common findings are handled
| Finding | Usual timing | Why | What treatment looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Posterior or anterior crossbite | Treat early (7 to 9) | Shifts the jaw and wears teeth unevenly; easiest to correct while the upper jaw is still growing | Expander, referred to an orthodontist; 6 to 9 months |
| Large overjet (protruding front teeth) | Treat early if injury risk is high | Front teeth far ahead of the lip are chipped and knocked out in falls | Invisalign First to bring the front teeth back, with habit coaching; braces cases referred |
| Severe crowding | Early assessment; treat early in some cases | Holding or creating space now can avoid extractions later | Space maintainer, selective removal of baby teeth, or a short aligner phase |
| Mild crowding or spacing | Wait | Usually improves as the jaw grows and the last baby teeth fall out | Monitor yearly; one phase of treatment in the teens if needed |
| Thumb, finger or tongue habit past age 6 | Treat early | The bite self-corrects substantially once the habit stops | Coaching and rewards first; referred for a habit appliance if needed |
| Baby tooth lost early | Treat early | Neighbors drift and block the adult tooth | Space maintainer until the adult tooth erupts |
| Underbite (lower jaw ahead) | Early orthodontic opinion | Growth-related; some options only work in young children | Referred to an orthodontist for assessment |
| Deep bite, open bite | Usually wait | Most are addressed in a single phase in the teens | Monitor; treat with the full adult bite |
The Process
What interceptive treatment involves
- Screening at seven. Part of the regular check-up: bite, jaw relationship, habits, and a panoramic X-ray to count and locate the adult teeth. Most children leave with nothing more than a note to recheck next year.
- Records if treatment is considered. Photographs, a digital scan of the teeth and the X-ray are reviewed with you, and Dr. Berger explains what would be treated now, what would wait, and what she would refer.
- Invisalign First, or a referral. Where clear aligners can do the job, Dr. Berger provides Invisalign First, designed for growing mouths with a mix of baby and adult teeth, followed by retainers. A baby tooth lost early gets a space maintainer. Expanders, habit appliances, braces and growth appliances are referred to an orthodontist.
- Six to twelve months of treatment. Visits every six to eight weeks to adjust the appliance or check aligner wear, alongside regular cleanings. Brushing around an appliance is taught at the first fitting.
- Retention and rest. When the goal is reached, a simple retainer or the appliance itself holds the result, and the child is monitored while the remaining adult teeth come in.
- Phase 2, if needed. Many children need a shorter, simpler round of aligners or braces in their early teens to fine-tune the bite; some need nothing more.
What early treatment can and cannot do
The honest case for Phase 1 treatment is narrower than some advertising suggests. Early treatment reliably fixes crossbites, protects protruding front teeth from injury, stops habits before they do more damage, and holds space so adult teeth have somewhere to go. It does not usually eliminate the need for teen orthodontics; research on two-phase treatment shows that for many children a single phase at twelve or thirteen gives the same final result with less total time in appliances. So Dr. Berger recommends early treatment when there is a specific problem that growth will make worse, and recommends waiting, with yearly checks, when there is not. Parents are told which category their child is in.
Who treats what
As a general dentist who sees children at every check-up, Dr. Berger does the screening, habit coaching, space maintainers for baby teeth lost early, and clear aligner treatment for suitable cases, including Invisalign for teens and Invisalign First for younger children. Invisalign and retainers are the only orthodontic treatment provided here. Palatal expanders, habit appliances, braces, functional appliances that influence jaw growth, and complex or skeletal problems are referred to an orthodontist we work with closely, and the two offices share records so nothing is repeated. Our children’s dentistry page describes the rest of a child’s care here.
Habits: the cheapest fix in orthodontics
A thumb or finger habit that continues past the age of six pushes the upper front teeth forward, tips the lowers back and can hold the bite open. Stopped early, much of that corrects on its own as the teeth settle. The first approach is always coaching: a calendar, a reward, a bandage on the thumb at night, and the child understanding why. When that is not enough, a simple habit appliance, a small reminder behind the upper front teeth fitted by an orthodontist we refer to, breaks the habit in a few weeks. Tongue-thrust swallowing is approached the same way, sometimes with exercises from a speech therapist.
Protecting protruding front teeth
Children whose upper front teeth sit well ahead of the lower lip are two to three times more likely to chip or lose one in a playground fall or a sports collision. Reducing that overjet early, with Invisalign First over a few months, is one of the clearest wins in early treatment. A custom sports mouthguard is recommended for any active child with a large overjet while the teeth are being brought back.
Cost and insurance
An orthodontic screening is part of a child’s regular exam and has no separate fee. If treatment is recommended, Phase 1 with Invisalign First is quoted as one fee covering the aligners, visits and retainers, and you receive it in writing before anything is started. Many dental plans with orthodontic benefits cover a share of Phase 1 under a lifetime orthodontic maximum, which is shared with any later Phase 2, so our team checks how your plan treats two-phase treatment before you decide. Referred expander or orthodontist treatment is quoted by that office.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why families choose South Florida Smile Spa for early orthodontic care
- Screened at every check-up. The age-seven look happens inside the visits your child already has; nothing is missed and nothing is oversold.
- Honest about timing. You are told when early treatment is worth it and when waiting for a single phase in the teens is the better plan.
- Invisalign and retainers, in-house. Invisalign First and Invisalign Teen, with the retainers that follow, are provided here by Dr. Berger for suitable cases.
- A clear referral path. Expanders, braces, habit appliances and growth problems go to an orthodontist we work with, with records shared and the dental care continuing here.
- Children treated gently. Tell-show-do, nitrous oxide for anxious children, and short visits timed around school.
Families come to us from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek, often with a seven-year-old whose front teeth are coming in at an angle their parents did not expect.
Wondering whether your child needs braces yet
Book an exam with Dr. Berger. The orthodontic screening is part of the visit, and you will leave knowing whether anything should be done now, later, or not at all.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should a child first see a dentist about braces?
Around seven, when the first adult molars and front teeth are in and the bite can be judged. Dr. Berger does this screening as part of the regular check-up, so there is no separate appointment. Most children need only yearly monitoring after it.
What is Phase 1 or interceptive orthodontics?
Short, targeted treatment between about seven and ten that guides jaw growth and tooth eruption while the child is still growing: correcting a crossbite, reducing protruding front teeth, stopping a habit or holding space. It is followed by a rest period and, often, a shorter Phase 2 in the teens.
Does early treatment mean my child will not need braces later?
Not usually. Early treatment fixes specific problems that get worse with growth; many children still need a shorter round of aligners or braces in their teens to fine-tune the bite. For mild problems, waiting for a single phase gives the same result with less time in appliances.
What problems should be treated early?
Crossbites, a very narrow upper jaw, front teeth that stick out and risk injury, severe crowding, thumb or tongue habits past age six, baby teeth lost too early or stuck, and an underbite that needs an early orthodontic opinion.
Can my child have Invisalign?
Yes, for suitable cases. Invisalign First is designed for growing mouths with a mix of baby and adult teeth, and Invisalign Teen for older children. Invisalign and retainers are the orthodontic treatments Dr. Berger provides here; cases that need an expander, braces or a growth appliance are referred to an orthodontist.
How long does early treatment take?
Typically six to twelve months of active treatment with visits every six to eight weeks, then a retainer or the appliance holding the result while the remaining adult teeth come in.
How do I stop my child sucking their thumb?
Start with coaching: a calendar, rewards, a bandage on the thumb at night, and explaining why. If the habit continues past six and the bite is changing, a simple habit appliance, fitted by an orthodontist we refer to, usually ends it in a few weeks. Dr. Berger checks the bite at each visit.
Does insurance cover Phase 1 orthodontics?
Plans with orthodontic benefits often cover a share of Phase 1 under a lifetime orthodontic maximum that is shared with any later treatment. The screening itself is part of the regular exam. Our team checks your plan and gives you a written fee before anything starts.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Families come from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County, and visits are scheduled around school where possible. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.