Interceptive Orthodontics

Relaxed, Modern & Kid-Friendly Dentistry

Many parents maintain a reactive stance on dental health problems with their kids. They wait for a child’s permanent teeth to form fully before seeking remedies for obvious dental health issues. Unfortunately, this approach is counterproductive. It’s easier to treat orthodontic problems in the early stages of a child’s development.

At NOLA Pediatric Dentistry, we deliver interceptive orthodontic treatment to young children and pre-teens. Our treatments use early intervention to improve future outcomes for your children. They help correct dentofacial abnormalities before they transition into more challenging orthodontic problems. At each 6-month appointment, Dr. Kris does a complimentary orthodontic screening to assess your child’s smile. One thing to keep in mind while your child is in treatment with any appliance is to not allow your child to have any sticky candies. These can remove or destroy your child’s appliance!

What Is Interceptive Orthodontics?

Interceptive orthodontics is an aspect of early orthodontic treatment aimed at malocclusion prevention. The treatment also influences jaw development using removable or fixed appliances.

Interceptive treatment is effective because it tackles orthodontic problems when a child’s dentofacial features are not fully set. Many jaw and bite problems become more difficult to treat when a child reaches their teen years. In adulthood, correcting any such problems may require surgery.

The Best Age For Interceptive Orthodontics

There’s no best age to embrace interceptive orthodontics. You should bring in your child anytime there are obvious signs of dentofacial concerns. However, at NOLA Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend bringing your child for their first evaluation at the age of seven.

We will recommend a dental checkup timeline if our evaluations reveal that they don’t need interceptive orthodontic treatment yet.

Following the timeline allows us to monitor the child’s dental development, staying on top of any situations before they become major problems.

Our Interceptive Orthodontics Solutions

At NOLA Pediatric Dentistry, we deliver holistic interceptive orthodontics services for all children. Dr. Kris’s specialized training ensures comprehensive care for your child.

Space Maintainers

A space maintainer is a special orthodontic appliance that helps keep the space open for your child’s permanent tooth to grow into its rightful position. You can eliminate some corrective dental appointments with this simple removable or fixed device.

Your child’s baby teeth act as a guide for permanent ones. Space maintainers keep the new eruption from drifting into the wrong space following the early loss of baby teeth.

Crowding Prevention

At NOLA Pediatric Dentistry, we help prevent crowding through guided eruptions. We recommend starting this treatment when your child is around seven years of age or as the permanent front teeth begin to appear. Crowded teeth prevention encourages natural alignment.

Habit Appliance

Does your child have a finger or thumb habit? A habit appliance will help stop it. The device can also correct improper swallowing patterns and, perhaps most importantly, poor tongue positioning.

Tongue posture has a significant impact on teeth. Using a habit appliance helps minimize harmful impact. Keep in mind that habit appliances are not removable. They are designed for adhesion to the back molars. However, these appliances are not made to inflict any pain or discomfort on your child. Our goal is to not shame your child for their habit. These appliances are designed to be a friendly reminder to your child who wants to stop their habit, but may need a little help!

Palate Expanders

We use palate expanders to prevent malocclusion and misalignment. However, these devices can also help your child breathe better. Palatal expander devices feature acrylic and metal. As the names imply, they rest against the palate. We bond the devices to the upper molars to keep them in place.

However, we can also provide removable palate expanders. We give you special keys to make small adjustments to the palate expanders each day to gradually expand the palate size. We advise our patients to wear the expanders for three to six months for sustainable results.

NOLA Pediatric Dentistry can help put your child on a path to excellent dental health with interceptive orthodontics.

Why Choose Interceptive Orthodontics?

Interceptive orthodontics is a crucial phase of dental care that addresses developing orthodontic issues in children before they become severe. By intervening early, dentists can guide the growth and development of a child's jaw and teeth, preventing more complex problems that might require extensive treatment, including surgery, later in life. This proactive approach not only leads to a healthier bite and straighter smile but also contributes to improved overall oral health and function.

The benefits of interceptive orthodontics extend beyond aesthetics. Early intervention can correct issues such as crossbites, underbites, and overbites, which can affect speech, chewing, and even breathing. It also creates adequate space for permanent teeth to erupt properly, reducing the need for extractions and simplifying future orthodontic treatment. NOLA Pediatric Dentistry emphasizes this preventative strategy as a cornerstone of comprehensive pediatric dental care.

How Interceptive Orthodontics Works

Interceptive orthodontics utilizes a variety of specialized appliances and techniques to guide the natural development of a child's oral structures. These methods are designed to be gentle and effective, working with the child's growth patterns rather than against them. The goal is to create a more favorable environment for the permanent teeth to emerge and align correctly, setting the stage for a lifetime of good oral health.

The process typically begins with a thorough orthodontic screening, often performed during regular dental check-ups. If an issue is detected, Dr. Kris at NOLA Pediatric Dentistry will discuss the findings and recommend appropriate interceptive solutions. These can include devices like space maintainers to preserve room for erupting permanent teeth, habit appliances to correct thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting, and palate expanders to widen the upper jaw, all tailored to the child's specific needs.

Common Interceptive Orthodontic Appliances

A range of specialized appliances are employed in interceptive orthodontics to address specific developmental concerns in children's mouths. These devices are carefully selected based on the diagnosed issue, aiming to gently influence tooth and jaw growth. Their primary function is to correct or prevent problems that could lead to more significant orthodontic challenges as the child matures.

Key appliances include space maintainers, which are vital when a baby tooth is lost prematurely, ensuring the space remains open for the permanent successor. Habit appliances are used to break detrimental oral habits like thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting, which can negatively impact dental alignment. Palate expanders are designed to widen the upper jaw, alleviating crowding and improving the bite, especially in cases of a narrow palate.

The Role of Early Orthodontic Evaluation

Early orthodontic evaluation is a cornerstone of interceptive orthodontics, providing an opportunity to identify potential issues in their nascent stages. By assessing a child's developing dentition and jaw structure, dentists can detect problems that might not be apparent to parents and intervene proactively. This early assessment is key to maximizing the benefits of interceptive treatments and minimizing the complexity of future dental care.

At NOLA Pediatric Dentistry, a complimentary orthodontic screening is conducted at each six-month check-up, with a recommended first formal evaluation around age seven. This age is often chosen because many permanent teeth have begun to erupt by then, allowing for a clearer picture of the developing bite. If treatment isn't immediately necessary, a monitoring schedule is established, ensuring that any emerging concerns are addressed promptly before they escalate into more significant orthodontic problems.

Monday	9:00AM – 3:00PM
Tuesday	11:00pm – 6:00pm
Wednesday	8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday	8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday	8:00am – 12:00pm