What Are the Benefits of Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment?
When a baby’s first teeth begin to come in at about 6 to 12 months old, the perfect little teeth are a wonder to behold. However, when a child’s first teeth fall out, leaving room for the permanent teeth, it only marks the beginning of many more years of change. This gives the teeth opportunities to develop issues.
Lots of children undergo orthodontic treatment, which can be stressful for both children and parents. This discomfort may be reduced by choosing an interceptive orthodontic treatment method for your child.
Are you wondering what it involves and how it can help? Keep reading to learn about it.
Why Early Treatment is Important
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist by age 7. Early treatment is important because it provides an opportunity to guide the growth of the jaw and the incoming teeth.
Phase 1 orthodontics can improve the child’s bite and give a more pleasing smile. Early treatment can also make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. That way, your child won’t have to dread going to the dentist for the rest of their life.
When is the Best Time to Start Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment?
The best time to start interceptive orthodontic treatment is as early as possible, ideally around age 7. Early orthodontic care can often avoid the need for more complex and expensive treatment later. This strategy is all about prevention, which is easier and cheaper than fixing problems after they develop.
Interceptive orthodontics can also help ensure that teeth are aligned as perfectly as possible. Some of the benefits of orthodontic care for kids include:
- Achieving a more attractive smile
- Improving your dental health
- Preventing future dental problems
- Boosting self-esteem and confidence
Improve Your Child’s Smile
Interceptive orthodontic treatment can improve your child’s smile by correcting the alignment of their teeth and jaws. This can help improve the function of their teeth and jaws by a significant amount and help prevent or reduce the need for future orthodontic treatment.
Interceptive orthodontic treatment is a wonderful way to improve your child’s self-esteem and confidence by giving them a straighter, more attractive smile. They say that the eyes are the window into the soul, but the smile is essential for successful social interactions. Whether you’re on a date or going to a job interview, a confident and beautiful smile can make all the difference in one’s life.
The Importance of a Corrected Bite
You might be wondering why it’s so crucial to ensure a correct bite early in a child’s life. There are multiple reasons, including the fact that a misaligned bite can cause your child to experience chronic pain. In addition, there can be extra stress on the jaw and even on the face with a misaligned bite.
Left untreated, this stress can lead to all kinds of chronic pain that could have been avoided. An improper bite can even cause bruxism, which can destroy enamel and cause other issues.
Aside from that, there’s also the matter of chewing food. An improper bite can make it hard to eat in general.
If your child can’t fully chew their food, then their risk of choking is increased. As if that wasn’t enough, a bad bite can affect the growth of your child’s teeth, causing them to come in crooked and crowded.
It’s amazing how many issues you can prevent by fixing a bite early on rather than waiting. With this in mind, you should sign your child up as a new patient and get them to the dentist as soon as possible.
The Phases of Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment
The first phase of this treatment type involves ensuring that your child’s mouth has enough room to accommodate the incoming teeth. From the ages of 6 to 8, your child’s mouth is much more susceptible to positive manipulation. For example, a tool like a palate expander can come in handy for expanding the size of the upper jaw.
In the case of missing primary teeth, a dentist can use space maintainers so that the new teeth come in as straight as possible.
There’s a resting period after this first phase so that the permanent teeth can come in without interruption. A dentist should keep an eye on the situation and recommend a retainer. In most cases, the efforts of the first phase are enough to let the teeth come up out of the gums without any other assistance.
Once every tooth has come in, phase two begins. This involves assessing what the teeth look like and how they’ve grown in. Any crowding or crookedness will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
It Can Save You Money in the Long Run
Interceptive orthodontic treatment can save you money in the long run by preventing more serious dental problems from developing.
By intercepting small problems early on, you can avoid paying for more extensive and expensive treatments down the road. In addition, early treatment may improve your child’s appearance and self-esteem, which can have lasting effects throughout their life, like a domino effect.
Ready to Get Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment?
If your child is between the ages of 6 and 12, and you think they may need braces in the future, interceptive orthodontic treatment may be right for them. Since there are so many benefits of early orthodontic care, your child will thank you later in life when they aren’t dealing with bruxism, crooked teeth, and other issues.
Do you want to learn more about interceptive orthodontic treatment or orthodontics in general? Please contact our office to schedule a consultation. After 60 years of business, we have several convenient locations where you can stop by.
