Interceptive Orthodontics: What is it and How Can it Benefit Your Child's Dental Health?

Interceptive orthodontics is a type of early orthodontic treatment that aims to prevent dental problems from developing or worsening in children. This treatment involves identifying and correcting dental issues before they become more severe, and can potentially save your child from needing more extensive orthodontic treatment later on in life. In this blog, we will discuss what interceptive orthodontics is, how it works, and how it can benefit your child's dental health.

What is Interceptive Orthodontics?

Interceptive orthodontics, also known as Phase 1 orthodontic treatment, is a type of orthodontic treatment that is performed on children who still have primary teeth or mixed dentition (a mix of baby and permanent teeth). This type of treatment focuses on correcting bite and alignment issues early on, before they become more severe and harder to correct.

Interceptive orthodontics can address a variety of dental issues, such as overcrowding, crossbite, underbite, overbite, and spacing issues. By correcting these issues early on, it can help prevent more serious dental problems from developing later on, such as impacted teeth, jaw misalignment, and other issues that may require more extensive orthodontic treatment.

How Does Interceptive Orthodontics Work?

Interceptive orthodontics typically involves the use of orthodontic appliances, such as braces, expanders, and space maintainers. These appliances are designed to gently shift and guide teeth into their proper positions and correct any bite or alignment issues.

During an initial consultation, your child's orthodontist will evaluate their teeth and determine if they are a good candidate for interceptive orthodontics. If so, they will create a customized treatment plan that outlines the specific orthodontic appliances and techniques that will be used to correct their dental issues.

Treatment time for interceptive orthodontics varies depending on the severity of your child's dental issues and the type of orthodontic appliances used. Most children will wear braces or other appliances for anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.

Benefits of Interceptive Orthodontics

There are many benefits to interceptive orthodontics, including:

• Correcting dental issues early on can prevent more serious dental problems from developing later on in life.
  
  
• Interceptive orthodontics can improve your child's self-esteem and confidence by giving them a straighter, more beautiful smile.
  
  
• By correcting bite and alignment issues, interceptive orthodontics can help improve your child's speech and chewing abilities.
  
  
• Correcting dental issues early on can potentially save you money in the long run by preventing the need for more extensive orthodontic treatment later on.

In conclusion, interceptive orthodontics is a type of early orthodontic treatment that can help correct dental issues before they become more severe. This type of treatment can potentially save your child from needing more extensive orthodontic treatment later on in life, and improve their self-esteem, speech, and chewing abilities. If you think your child may benefit from interceptive orthodontics, talk to your orthodontist to see if they are a good candidate for this type of treatment.