Across Europe, orthodontists have been using what is known as the two-phase or interceptive approach for decades — a model that aligns treatment with a child’s natural growth stages. First developed in the mid-20th century and widely adopted through the 1980s and 1990s in countries such as Spain, Germany and Italy, it focuses on guiding jaw and dental development rather than simply straightening teeth once they’ve fully appeared.
In the UK, orthodontic treatment has traditionally begun later, often during the early teenage years, once most permanent teeth have erupted. While effective, this timing leaves fewer opportunities to influence jaw growth earlier on. Now, as healthcare systems increasingly move toward prevention and early intervention, interest in beginning orthodontic assessment at a younger age is growing.
Clinics with long-standing experience in this field — such as Moonz Orthodontics, an international group with 14 clinics in Spain and one in London — are helping to bring this perspective into the conversation. Since its foundation in 2011, Moonz has centred its clinical philosophy on the two-phase approach, working daily with children and teenagers whose treatments are adapted to their growth patterns.
What Two-Phase Orthodontics Involves:
This model divides treatment into two stages that follow a child’s natural development:
Phase One usually takes place between ages 6 and 9, when children still have a mix of baby and adult teeth. At this stage, orthodontists may use functional appliances — gentle, removable devices designed to guide the growth of the bones of the face and mouth. These appliances can help widen the upper jaw, correct early imbalances, and create space for permanent teeth to erupt in a healthier position.
Phase Two happens in adolescence, once most permanent teeth are present. This stage focuses on fine-tuning tooth alignment and bite position, often using braces or aligners.
Experts who follow this two-phase model often find that it can make later treatment simpler and shorter, while reducing the need for extractions or surgery. More importantly, it can give children greater comfort and confidence during key years of growth and self-image.
While the two-phase model isn’t new, its growing recognition in the UK represents a shift in thinking — one that values early, preventive care as much as correction. Drawing on extensive experience from Spain, Moonz Orthodontics is among the teams helping to demonstrate how this approach can fit seamlessly into British orthodontic practice, offering families more options and a proactive path toward healthy, lasting smiles.
Blog post written by Chamber Benefactor, Moonz Orthodontics
