Preventive Orthodontics

At Park Slope Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics Empowered by hellosmile, we work to keep oral problems from developing in the first place. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to dental problems. Preventative orthodontics helps your child ward off more complex problems in the future.

When there is not adequate room for permanent teeth to come in properly, preventative orthodontics is used to help keep malocclusion or a bad bite from happening. If nothing is done under these circumstances, the permanent teeth may come in crooked contributing to a host of additional problems. Not only do crooked teeth cause issues with alignment, they can make your child more susceptible to dental decay as food traps develop in difficult to clean spaces. Speech impediments can also develop as a result of misaligned teeth.

One of the most disheartening issues with crooked teeth is your child’s self-esteem when his smile is not as appealing as it could be. Fortunately preventative orthodontics mitigates these issues before they even arise.

Pre-Orthodontic Treatment to Encourage Natural Growth and Development

It is the job of primary teeth to guide permanent teeth into position; however, sometimes primary teeth are lost prematurely. This loss leaves a space that neighboring teeth will drift into over time, unless the space is kept clear. Some orthodontic appliances used in creating or maintaining space for permanent teeth are space maintainers and dental headgear. Space maintainers are placed so that teeth on either side of the space where a permanent tooth is due to come in is kept open. Dental headgear is worn at home and during sleeping hours under most circumstances. It is a device that is used to correct the occlusion of upper and lower molars. Sometimes it is also used to create additional space for permanent teeth.

The orthodontists will fully explain how pre-orthodontic treatment helps provide room for permanent teeth to erupt naturally in alignment. By using special orthodontic appliances space can be maintained for the arrival of permanent teeth. Creating space before they come in may help to prevent the need for extractions in the future. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.