While your child’s teeth may appear straight, dental problems may develop that only a trained professional can accurately diagnose and treat. Interceptive orthodontic treatment is used to identify problems in your child’s oral development in order to provide preventive treatments as early as possible. Early preventive care can often reduce or entirely eliminate a number of potential problems that may worsen with time, including:

• Tooth crowding or spacing problems
• Tooth misalignment problems
• Jaw misalignment or TMJ disorders
• Harmful oral habits (such as finger sucking or tongue thrusting)
• Trauma due to protruding front teeth
• Airway issues
• Speech issues

Additionally, interceptive orthodontics can help to guide your child’s teeth and jaws into the correct positions as they develop to ensure that they can enjoy proper oral function as well as a healthy and well-balanced smile that will boost his or her confidence. Early preventive care can make future orthodontic treatments shorter and less complicated, or even eliminate the need for braces and in many cases produce better results than treatments that are provided later on in your child’s life.

The American Association of Orthodontists® (AAO) recommends that children receive their initial orthodontic screening no later than age 7. Some orthodontists recommend that children have their initial consultation even earlier. It is important to be aware that the need for an early orthodontic evaluation requires a very individualized approach that depends upon periodic evaluations of the changes that will occur with your child’s teeth and jaws over time. Our pediatric dentist is trained to be able to make this determination in a timely fashion, so that your child’s orthodontic treatment needs can be taken care of in the best and most efficient manner possible for them.

Please call our office today for more information about interceptive orthodontics and schedule your child’s appointment with our caring pediatric dentist.