Early treatment or Interceptive Orthodontics is prevention of orthodontic problems. Recognizing and correcting these issues early on, before or during permanent tooth eruption, prevents them from becoming larger and more costly issues later.

Space Maintenance needed for the premature loss of a baby (deciduous) tooth/teeth. A space maintainer appliance to hold the space open for the permanent tooth that is developing in the jaw, preventing teeth behind the space from drifting forward.

Crossbitesare a form of dental/jaw misalignment. Normally, upper teeth sit “in front” of the lower teeth when biting together. In a crossbite situation, the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth when biting. This can occur in the back teeth region as well as the front teeth region. In a young child, before permanent teeth erupt, this can usually be fixed easily with simple fixed appliances. Since the permanent teeth are guided into place by the baby teeth, it is important to fix these problems.

Open Bites usually occur in the front teeth and is a condition where the teeth do not overlap when biting. Open bites give the appearance that the person's mouth is never really closed. This can lead to speech and eating issues, and potentially jaw/temporal mandibular joint pain. In addition to genetic factors, oral habits such as tongue thrusting, lisping, thumb sucking, and lip sucking can lead to open bites. Simple appliances can be made to “correct” these habits early to prevent open bites.

We can recognize your child's orthodontic needs early, consult with you and a refer your child to a specialist when and if necessary.