Interceptive Treatment
Early treatment can prove beneficial.
A visit to the orthodontist early can head off problems and help children develop a healthy bite and proper tooth alignment. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an exam no later than age seven for children. Catching a problem before it becomes pronounced is referred to as interceptive treatment and can:
- Reduce the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Guide jaw growth
- Create room for crowded, erupting teeth
- Decrease treatment time as an adolescent
- Avoid serious problems in the future
When to see an orthodontist
If you recognize any of these signs in your child or adolescent, please call our office to schedule a consultation:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Sucking the thumb or fingers, or other oral habits
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or are recessed
- Speech difficulty
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
- Facial imbalance or asymmetry (features out of proportion to the rest of the face)
- Grinding or clenching of teeth
- Inability to comfortably close lips
The goal of orthodontic treatment is a good bite—meaning straight teeth that mesh well with the teeth in the opposite jaw. A good bite makes it easier to bite, chew and speak. This can enhance not only dental health and overall health, but it may also improve self-esteem.
