Early Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment

What is the difference between early orthodontic treatment and regular orthodontic treatment?

Some orthodontic conditions are easier to treat if they are intercepted and corrected early. Problems that could be severe, if left untreated, can be prevented when the orthodontist has some control over where the permanent teeth come in. Early treatment (also known as Phase I) typically begins around age eight or nine (Phase II will begin around age 11 or older). The goal of early treatment is to improve the growth of the jaw and eliminate certain orthodontic problems, such as underbite, crossbite, or overbite. Early treatment can also help to make room for permanent teeth to come in properly, lessening the chance of extractions in the future.

In general, interceptive treatment allows the doctor to take advantage of your child’s growth and development to complement any needed orthodontics.

What happens during the orthodontic evaluation?

Dr. Krepkh will screen for and may recommend orthodontic treatments that can help correct parafunctional habits and orthodontic problems such as:

  • * Early or late loss of teeth
  • * Crowding or spacing of teeth
  • * Overbite/Underbite/ Crossbite/Open bite
  • * Mouth breathing
  • * Teeth clenching or grinding
  • * Thumb or finger sucking
  • * Lip biting
  • * Tongue thrusting

Early evaluation isn’t always followed by treatment, but it allows us to monitor your child’s growth until it is time for treatment. By starting early, we can decrease the length of possible future orthodontic treatment, optimizing better results for your child.

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