Interceptive Orthodontics

Your child’s occlusion is monitored at every dental cleaning visit. We assess permanent molar relationships, relationships between upper and lower jaws, tooth position and eruption. Orthodontics is not done at a hard and fast age; it is dependent on your child’s eruption pattern, jaw shape, size, oral habits, breathing habits and a number of factors. We will let you know when it is time to see the Orthodontist for early intervention (Phase I) or for conventional treatment once all permanent teeth are erupted.

A habit appliance is useful to help stop a thumb or finger habit and/or to help re-train an improper tongue position or swallowing pattern. It is sometimes necessary to place an appliance to minimize the harm and distortion the habits or tongue posture can have on teeth. Most habit appliances are banded for adhesion to the back molars and are not removable.

Space maintainers are used to keep teeth from drifting into an empty tooth space due to early loss of primary (baby) teeth. Baby teeth act as a guide for the eruption of the permanent teeth. A space maintainer is made of stainless steel and/or plastic. It can be removable or fixed to the teeth.