Pediatric
Interceptive orthodontics
Interceptive orthodontics is early, limited treatment in childhood that guides jaw and tooth growth to ease or prevent bigger bite problems later.
Some bite problems are easier to correct while a child is still growing. Interceptive treatment uses simple appliances, such as a palatal expander or a space maintainer, during the baby-tooth or mixed dentition years. A review in the NIH library found that early, short-term interceptive treatment with simple appliances can correct certain bite problems and can reduce the complexity of later care. It does not always replace later braces. Not every child needs it. Dentists look for crossbites, crowding, and habits like thumb sucking. Your child's dentist will talk with you about whether early care fits. See malocclusion and orthodontics, or our page on dentistry for kids.