Two-Phase Treatment
At Straight Smiles, we take a proactive approach to smile care, especially for growing children. Two-phase treatment is a specialized process designed to correct jaw development, create space for permanent teeth, and prevent more complex dental issues down the road. By addressing problems early, we can help ensure your child develops a healthy, well-aligned smile that lasts a lifetime.
What Is Two-Phase Treatment?
Two-phase treatment is a strategic approach that involves two stages of treatment, separated by a resting period. It is typically recommended for children with jaw misalignment, crowding, or bite issues that could worsen as they grow.
Phase One: Early Intervention (Ages 7-10)
The first phase of treatment begins while a child still has a mix of baby and permanent teeth. This phase focuses on guiding jaw growth and creating space for future teeth, helping to:
- Correct bite problems such as overbites, underbites, and crossbites
- Prevent severe crowding by making room for permanent teeth
- Reduce the need for extractions or more invasive treatments later
- Address harmful habits like thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting
During Phase One, children may wear a specialized appliance, partial braces, or clear aligners depending on their needs.
Resting Period
After Phase One, there is a resting period where we allow the remaining permanent teeth to come in naturally. During this time, we closely monitor the child’s growth to determine if further treatment is needed.
Phase Two: Comprehensive Treatment (Ages 11-14)
Once all permanent teeth have erupted, Phase Two begins. This phase focuses on fine-tuning tooth alignment and bite correction with braces or clear aligners. The goal is to:
- Straighten teeth for a functional, beautiful smile
- Ensure a stable, well-aligned bite
- Optimize long-term oral health
Does My Child Need Two-Phase Treatment?
Not every child requires early intervention, but an evaluation by Dr. Scramstad around age 7 can help determine if two-phase treatment is beneficial. Starting treatment at the right time can make care easier, faster, and more effective in the long run.
Think your child may benefit from early treatment? Request a consultation today to learn more about two-phase treatment and how we can help set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles!
TMJ/TMD Treatment
If you experience jaw pain, clicking, headaches, or difficulty chewing, you may have temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), often referred to as TMJ disorder. At Straight Smiles, we understand how frustrating and uncomfortable these symptoms can be. That’s why we offer personalized treatment options to help relieve pain, restore function, and improve your overall quality of life.
What Is TMD?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull and allows you to speak, chew, and move your jaw smoothly. When this joint becomes strained, inflamed, or misaligned, it can lead to TMD (temporomandibular disorder), causing symptoms such as:
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when opening and closing your mouth
- Headaches or migraines
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Locking of the jaw
- Ear pain or ringing (tinnitus)
How Can Treatment Help?
TMD can be caused or worsened by bite misalignment, teeth grinding, or jaw imbalances. Our treatments can help by:
- Aligning the bite properly to reduce strain on the TMJ
- Improving jaw function to prevent uneven pressure
- Providing relief through a custom nightguard to reduce clenching and grinding
Personalized TMJ/TMD Treatment Options
At Straight Smiles, we take a comprehensive, customized approach to treating TMD. Depending on your symptoms and the underlying cause, treatment may include:
- Treatment solutions — Braces or clear aligners can help correct bite misalignment, relieving strain on the jaw.
- Botox — Relieves jaw tension and pain by relaxing overactive muscles responsible for TMJ-related discomfort, teeth grinding, and clenching.
- Nightguards or splints — Custom-fitted oral appliances can prevent teeth grinding (bruxism) and ease jaw tension.
- Lifestyle & habit adjustments — Exercises, stress management, and minor habit changes can improve TMJ health.
- Collaboration with other specialists — In severe cases, we may recommend additional therapies, such as physical therapy or dental restorations to correct bite imbalances.
If you’re experiencing TMJ discomfort, you don’t have to live with the pain. Let us help you find a personalized solution that restores comfort and function to your jaw.
Request a consultation today to learn more about TMJ/TMD treatment and how we can help!
Botox
At Straight Smiles, we offer therapeutic and aesthetic Botox treatments as part of our comprehensive approach to facial harmony and oral health. Whether you’re experiencing jaw discomfort from TMJ issues or looking to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, Botox can be a safe, effective, and minimally invasive solution.
Botox is a purified protein that works by temporarily relaxing targeted muscles, reducing unwanted movement and tension. While widely known for its cosmetic benefits, Botox is also used in dentistry and orthodontics to help manage jaw pain, clenching, and related muscle strain.
Therapeutic Benefits of Botox
For patients dealing with TMJ dysfunction or chronic jaw tension, Botox offers relief by easing muscle activity around the jaw and face.
Botox may help with:
- TMJ pain and jaw tension
- Headaches caused by clenching or grinding (bruxism)
- Facial muscle soreness or fatigue
- Overactive muscles contributing to orthodontic relapse
By targeting the underlying muscle overactivity, Botox can reduce discomfort and support your overall treatment plan.
Aesthetic Benefits of Botox
In addition to its therapeutic use, Botox is also a popular option for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, particularly around the:
- Forehead
- Eyes (crow’s feet)
- Brow (frown lines)
Botox treatments are quick, non-surgical, and require little to no downtime, making them a convenient option for patients who want to enhance their appearance while maintaining a natural look. Whether your goals are therapeutic or cosmetic, we’ll create a customized treatment plan that’s safe, precise, and aligned with your unique needs.
Whether you’re seeking relief from jaw pain or looking to refresh your appearance, Botox could be the right solution. Request a consultation today to learn how Botox at Straight Smiles can help you feel and look your best.
Airway Management
At Straight Smiles, we take a comprehensive approach to care that looks beyond just straight teeth — we also focus on how the structure of the mouth and jaw can impact breathing and overall health. That’s why we offer airway-focused treatment to help identify and manage issues related to restricted airways, which can affect everything from sleep quality to facial development.
Why Airway Health Matters
A healthy airway is essential for proper breathing, especially during sleep. In children and adults, a narrow or obstructed airway can lead to problems such as:
- Mouth breathing
- Snoring or restless sleep
- Daytime fatigue or trouble concentrating
- Poor jaw development in children
- Sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea
If left unaddressed, airway issues can affect growth, behavior, focus, and overall quality of life. That’s why early detection and intervention are so important.
How Treatment Can Help
Orthodontic treatment can play a key role in opening and supporting the airway by guiding the growth and positioning of the jaw, teeth, and surrounding structures. At Straight Smiles, we may use:
- Early interceptive treatment to encourage proper jaw development in growing children
- Palatal expanders to widen the upper jaw and improve nasal airflow
- Custom treatment planning with 3D imaging (including CBCT) to assess the airway space
- Collaboration with medical professionals if further evaluation is needed
Our goal is to treat not only the smile but also support optimal breathing and long-term health.
Is Airway Management Right for You or Your Child?
If you’ve noticed signs of mouth breathing, restless sleep, or frequent fatigue, especially in a child, it could be linked to airway concerns. Our team can evaluate your or your child’s needs and provide a personalized plan to improve both oral health and airway function.
Want to learn more about airway-focused treatment? Request a consultation today, and let’s start the conversation.
Jaw Expansion
At Straight Smiles, we use jaw expansion as a key part of early care to promote healthy facial development, improve bite alignment, and support better breathing. Also known as palatal expansion, this treatment is especially effective in growing children whose jaws are still developing, but in some cases, it can benefit teens and adults as well.
What Is Jaw Expansion?
Jaw expansion involves gently widening the upper jaw (palate) using a custom appliance called a palatal expander. This treatment creates more space in the mouth, helping to:
Reduce crowding by making room for permanent teeth
- Correct crossbites where the upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth
- Improve overall bite alignment and facial symmetry
- Support airway health by opening the nasal passages for easier breathing
By guiding jaw development early, we can often avoid the need for more complex procedures later on.
How Does It Work?
A palatal expander is a small, fixed appliance that fits against the roof of the mouth. It gently widens the upper jaw over time through controlled, gradual adjustments, usually made at home with a special key. Most expansion treatments take just a few months, followed by a retention period to stabilize the new jaw width.
Jaw expansion is most commonly used in children between the ages of 7 and 12, while the bones are still developing and can respond effectively to treatment. However, teens and some adults may also benefit from expansion with the right treatment approach.
It may be recommended if your child has:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- A narrow or high-arched palate
- Crossbite or underbite
- Mouth breathing or airway issues
Supporting Lifelong Oral Health
Jaw expansion isn’t just about making room for teeth — it’s about setting the stage for a balanced bite, proper jaw function, and healthy breathing. At Straight Smiles, we use advanced diagnostics and personalized treatment planning to ensure the best possible outcome for each patient.
Common Orthodontic Issues
At Straight Smiles, we know that a straight, well-aligned smile isn’t just about looks—it’s about better oral health, improved function, and long-term confidence. Orthodontic treatment helps correct a variety of issues that can affect your bite, speech, and even your ability to keep your teeth clean.
From crowding and spacing to bite misalignments like overbites and crossbites, these common concerns can lead to tooth wear, jaw discomfort, and even difficulty chewing if left untreated. Fortunately, modern solutions — including braces and clear aligners — make it easier than ever to achieve a healthy, beautifully aligned smile at any age.
Crowding
When the jaw doesn’t have enough room to accommodate all of the teeth, we call it crowding. In these instances, the teeth typically overlap, get shifted forward, back, or twist. What causes crowding? It could be due to the baby teeth falling out too early, an imbalance in the tooth-to-jaw-size ratio, or the permanent teeth erupting incorrectly. Since crowded teeth are harder to properly brush and floss, crowding can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Spacing
If you have gaps between two or more teeth, it’s known as spacing. Spacing is the opposite of crowding. The issue is often the result of teeth that are too narrow to fill out the jaw, missing teeth, or certain oral habits, such as prolonged thumb sucking. A lot of patients are unhappy with how their smile looks when they have spacing, however, it can also have a negative effect on the health of your gums.
Deep Bite (Overbite)
A deep overbite is characterized by top teeth that almost completely overlap the bottom teeth. Most people have some degree of an overbite but when the space between the upper and lower teeth is large, it can cause excessive wear, jaw discomfort, and make the top teeth more susceptible to injury.
Flared Teeth (Overjet)
Overjet refers to teeth that point forward (or flare out) over the bottom teeth. Also sometimes known as protrusion or “buck teeth,” flared teeth are most visible from the side and can make people self-conscious of their appearance. The protrusion can put your teeth at a higher risk of damage and can lead to issues with chewing. Treatment is possible with braces or Invisalign.
Underbite
When your top teeth sit in front of the bottom teeth, you’re said to have an underbite. An underbite can occur if the upper and lower jaws grow at different rates. An underbite may make it difficult to chew and speak properly and lead to uneven wear of the teeth. Since it’s a skeletal issue, it’s extremely helpful if it’s diagnosed and treated at an early age. By using appliances to advance the bottom teeth in childhood, we can often avoid the need for surgery later in life.
Crossbite
If some of the top teeth are inside of the bottom teeth when the jaws are closed together, it’s referred to as a crossbite. A crossbite can either be a front crossbite or a back crossbite. Crossbites are sometimes caused by the early loss of primary teeth, trauma, certain oral habits, or genetics. When patients have a crossbite, it’s natural to compensate by shifting the jaw to one side, which can create permanent changes in the facial structure. This is why catching and treating it early can be beneficial.
Open Bite
An open bite is when the top and bottom teeth don’t make contact when you close your mouth. Obviously, this can affect your ability to chew and bite into foods, among other problems. An open bite can be skeletal in nature and the result of genetics or it can be caused by poor oral habits, such as tongue thrusting and prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use.
