Treatments for Children & Teens
Phase 1 Treatment: Interceptive (young children)
It is recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) that children see their orthodontist by the age of 7. At this point, the orthodontist will determine if the child’s jaw or jaws are growing asymmetrically or if there is excessive crowding of the existing permanent and/or primary teeth. If that is so, then the child is a candidate for interceptive treatment (Phase 1 Treatment). Phase I Treatment is typically performed anywhere between 7-10 years of age. It is a limited treatment designed to correct skeletal or acute dental discrepancies at a young age. It usually lasts about 12 months.
An early consult results in more treatment options, helps avoid lengthy treatments and minimizes the extraction of permanent teeth later on.
Phase 2 Treatment: Comprehensive (adolescents)
If interceptive treatment is not required, then the child will be evaluated about every 6 months by the orthodontist who will monitor (by looking in the mouth and at the necessary x-rays) the eruption of the permanent teeth and the growth of the jaws.
As there is no exact age when comprehensive treatment begins, most children will get their braces on when they still have between 1-3 primary teeth in their mouth. Average treatment time is 24-27 months. At the end of treatment, all patients will get retainers which they will wear to ensure the retention of their beautiful smile.
Interested in an orthodontic evaluation for your child? Please complete the form below and we will be in touch to schedule an appointment at your convenience.
Love, love, love Dr. Deme and the girls! I could not be happier with the service and the results from my invisalign! All smiles here! (-:
I had my teeth straightened here, when no other orthodontist could help. Dr. Gobbie did an excellent job. He made a plan and did what I wanted, where all other orthodontists said my teeth were straight. But not in my eyes, they weren't. Dr. Gobbie fixed them to my likings. I would recommend him to anybody who needs their teeth straightened.
My daughter and I really like Dr. Deme. He's very kind and takes the time to explain what is going on, and answered all our questions patiently. He also helped us think through how to play a wind instrument with braces which I was concerned about.
I can't say enough good things about Pittsburgh Orthodontic Group. My 2 children have been patients for more than a year and we have received nothing but professional service every time. Dr. Deme and Dr. Gobbie are both pleasant and have established a wonderful relationship with my kids. Dr. Deme once dealt with an unforeseen situation in an extremely timely manner. Bonus: the hygienist and the receptionist are equally welcoming and efficient.
Forever thanking Dr. Gobbie for the great smile I'm sure to use everyday of my life!
I have two boys in braces and couldn't be more pleased with the treatment. Dr. Deme always takes time to explain what he is doing so we understand the process and next steps. I feel like he isn't just an orthodontist but also an artist who is sculpting my children's mouths into a perfect smile. He has contacted us over the weekend on a couple occasions when a child has a new retainer or recently installed braces just to make sure things are going well. The office staff are flexible and friendly when I need to change appointments.
I came into their office needing surgical treatment because my teeth and my jaws were all over the place. Two years later my teeth look perfect, and Dr. Deme and Dr. Gobbie managed to align my teeth without surgery! They are truly genuine people and very family friendly all within a stress free environment. Thanks to Dr. Deme and Dr. Gobbie I will be able to smile confidently for the rest of my life!
Dr. Gobbie and Invisalign gave me my beautiful smile!
I'm so happy that I decided to go ahead with the Invisalign process. It was very easy and didn't take long at all. Invisalign is a great way to straighten your teeth and it's not very noticeable. Being in my twenties, it was perfect for me because most people didn't even notice that I had anything on my teeth. The trays didn't bother me at all, they were comfortable and I got used to them very quickly.
Dr. Gobbie was great. He and his staff are very friendly and made me feel comfortable every time I had a visit. I trusted him completely - and I'm glad I did! I'm very happy with the way he transformed my smile!
Great friendly office that is outstanding with kids. Very flexible with scheduling and responsive when the unknown occurs. Their work is of the highest quality and produces BIG smiles!
Dr. Deme is great! My kids love him. The work he has done for them has gone smoothly and looks really good. I would recommend Pittsburgh Orthodontics Group to everyone.
Dr. Deme is absolutely amazing! I am beyond happy with my end results! I would recommend his services to any and everyone! The environment in the Mt. Lebanon office is always friendly and welcoming!
Dr. Gobbie and his team are the best and most professional. Our daughter has the most beautiful smile. Because of his perfection she can not stop smiling! Thanks Dr. Gobbie!
As an adult, I was not looking forward to the idea of having braces — especially since I'd had them when I was in my 20s. I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea, and the doctors thought that my best chance was to have reconstructive oral surgery on my lower jaw. The first step was to work with an orthodontist, and I am so happy that I was referred to Dr. Gobbie and his team. They worked with me and my oral surgeon every step of the way — sometimes literally holding my hand! I would never have made it without their help, and now thanks to them, I can breathe, eat and sleep like a normal person.
Thank you so much to Dr. Gobbie, Dr. Deme, Patti and Beth — you have given me so much to smile about!
I have two children being treated by them with another to likely need the same treatment soon. Great with the kids during what can be a painful process. Always willing to take the time to completely answer questions from kids and parents.
Dr. Deme and Dr. Gobbie have been great to work with. Both of my kids are currently having work done on their smiles. Dr. Deme explained everything they wanted to do and why during the initial consultation. The staff is very friendly and will answer any questions you have.
My son has started the process of getting an expander and braces. He was nervous. I was nervous. Dr. Deme is SUPER awesome with kids. He explained everything that was going to happen and even went over the patient consent with my son to make sure he understood what was going on. For a process I really hoped my kids wouldn't have to go through, his experience is a million times better than mine was. If you need any type of orthodontic work done, go here. Seriously. You won't be disappointed.