Interceptive orthodontic treatment is orthodontic treatment in its earliest possible phases. It is recommended that children have their first orthodontic appointments at seven years of age, but have you seen a seven year old with metal braces? Most likely not! This is because interceptive treatment is the orthodontic treatment that begins at or around seven years of age and sets children up for less invasive orthodontic treatment later in their pre-teen or teenage years.
The benefits of early orthodontic treatment are endless, not the least of which are healthy smiles, lower future orthodontic bills and the comfort of knowing you are providing your child the best start possible to a beautiful smile they can enjoy throughout their life!
The Difference Between Interceptive And Regular Orthodontic Treatment
When you think of orthodontic treatment, you most likely envision the regular orthodontic treatment, with metal braces on a teenager or adult, appointments every six weeks to have the braces tightened, colored bands and the shiny, straight teeth that emerge after several months of treatment. Regular orthodontic treatment is the typical orthodontic treatment that occurs after childhood and is more intensive, time-consuming and expensive than interceptive orthodontic treatment.
Interceptive orthodontic treatment is an early, preventative treatment specifically used on children to identify potential jaw and tooth alignment issues and correct them before they take root and cause more serious issues later in the child’s life. Interceptive treatment can include jaw expansion to make room for adult teeth, correcting crossbites, overbites and underbites and removing baby teeth in order to make room for adult teeth to erupt without issue. All of these are helpful in mitigating the extent to which orthodontic treatment is necessary down the road.
Benefits of Interceptive Orthodontics
If you are on the fence about interceptive orthodontics and wonder if it can really help your child (and you as a result!), rest assured that this early treatment has only the best in mind for your child’s orthodontic well-being. A few of the benefits you will see after interceptive orthodontic treatment are:
- Alignment of teeth and jaw
- Space for adult teeth to come in straight
- Jaw prepared for proper growth
- Reduced need for tooth extraction as a pre-teen or teenager
- Time in braces is shorter
And one of the greatest benefits for parents is the financial burden you will save by pursuing this early treatment, rather than waiting until orthodontic problems erupt to take action. As with any health related concern, proactive treatment is more beneficial to your child’s well-being than reactive treatment after an issue has arisen.
Will My Child Still Need Braces?
It is important to keep in mind that even with interceptive orthodontic treatment, in most cases your child will still need braces. The purpose of interceptive treatment is not to guarantee that your child won’t need braces, but to lessen the extra dental problems that can arise without early treatment. Conventional orthodontic treatment such as metal or ceramic braces will still need to be used in the majority of young patients who receive interceptive orthodontic treatment, but the amount of time and intensity of procedures required for later treatment is drastically decreased.
Remember that interceptive treatment is not a quick-fix for orthodontic problems that would otherwise arise in your child’s pre-teen or teenage years. It is a means of treatment to help your child have to go through less intensive orthodontic procedures down the road, which will also save you money on those procedures.
Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment In Fort Worth
If you’re a parent who has been wondering if interceptive treatment is really necessary and even worth it to look into, don’t wait any longer to find out what this early treatment can do for your child. Ahava Orthodontics in Fort Worth is passionate about helping our youngest patients with early interceptive treatment. Call us today at 817-926-9777 to schedule an initial exam for your child!