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9735 Landmark Parkway Dr.
Suite #16 St. Louis, MO 63127
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(314) 270-5817
Interceptive Orthodontics
Dr. Kelly Jobe | Pediatric Dentist | St. Louis, MO
Interceptive Orthodontics
In some cases during your child’s regular checkup, a pediatric dentist might recommend an orthodontic treatment while your child still has their baby teeth. This is called interceptive orthodontic treatment, or early orthodontic treatment.
This treatment uses various dental appliances to prevent any future issues – such as overcrowding, crooked teeth or teeth that don’t emerge in the right sequence. This is accomplished by moving teeth, holding teeth in place or changing the position of the jaw.
“Interceptive treatment” might sound intimidating, but it’s really not! The appliances used in interceptive treatment are incredibly easy to use, and can decrease the length or even prevent more intensive orthodontic treatments down the road. They also create a more attractive smile, giving your child more confidence.
When to get an orthodontic consultation
It is recommended that your child get their first orthodontic consultation before the age of 7. Their adult molars usually start coming in at age 6, so by this time we can start assessing any issues with their jaw, teeth and airways. This will give us plenty of time to catch problems early, and recommend proper treatment.
Early orthodontic consultations are also important because it is much easier to stop future dental problems when your child’s face and jaw are still growing. Once they stop growing, it’s much more difficult to correct any issues because mouth structures aren’t as flexible.
However, if your child is experiencing early symptoms of orthodontic problems, you should go ahead and schedule an exam even if your child is much younger than 7.
Some symptoms of early orthodontic problems include:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Trouble chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Thumbsucking or other poor oral habits
- Crowded or misplaced teeth
- Jaws that make sounds, shift, protrude or are recessed
- Difficulty speaking
- Cheek biting or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Teeth that fail to meet normally or at all
- Facial imbalance or asymmetry
- Teeth grinding or clenching
Some tooth development problems can happen on their own, but sometimes they can be caused by habits like thumbsucking and tongue pushing. These issues can be fixed with appliances like partial braces and retainers.
In some cases, the jaw might need to be widened so adult teeth can come in correctly. Then, an appliance called a palatal expander can be used to gently widen the jaw.
Questions for Dr. Jobe or the Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry team?
Dr. Kelly Jobe and the team at Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry are committed to providing the best pediatric dental care in the greater St. Louis, MO area! Please contact us with any questions regarding your kid’s dental health, we are here to help!
FAQs
Interceptive orthodontics, also called early orthodontic treatment, is a proactive approach to guiding jaw and tooth development in children who still have some or all of their baby teeth. Rather than waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in to address problems, interceptive treatment uses dental appliances to correct issues while the jaw and facial structures are still growing and more responsive to change. At Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in St. Louis, Dr. Kelly Jobe recommends early orthodontic evaluations so potential problems can be identified and addressed before they become more complex.
Traditional braces are typically placed after all of a child’s permanent teeth have erupted, which usually happens in the early teen years. Interceptive orthodontics works earlier, during the mixed dentition phase when a child still has a combination of baby and permanent teeth. The goal is to create the right conditions for permanent teeth to come in correctly, which can shorten the length of future orthodontic treatment or, in some cases, eliminate the need for full braces altogether. The appliances used are generally simpler and less involved than full braces.
The American Association of Orthodontists and most pediatric dental guidelines recommend that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. By this age, the first permanent molars have typically come in, which gives Dr. Jobe enough information to assess jaw development, tooth spacing, and bite alignment. That said, if your child is showing signs of orthodontic problems before age seven, it is worth scheduling an evaluation sooner rather than waiting.
There are several early warning signs to watch for. These include losing baby teeth unusually early or late, difficulty chewing or biting, mouth breathing, prolonged thumbsucking, crowded or misplaced teeth, jaws that shift, pop, or protrude, difficulty speaking clearly, protruding front teeth, teeth that do not meet properly, facial asymmetry, and teeth grinding or clenching. If you notice any of these in your child, reaching out to our St. Louis office for an evaluation is a good next step.
The appliances used in interceptive orthodontics depend on what issues need to be corrected. Common options include partial braces, retainers, and palatal expanders. A palatal expander is a device used to gently widen the upper jaw over time, creating enough space for permanent teeth to come in correctly. These appliances are designed to be easy for children to use and adapt to, and they work with the natural growth process rather than against it.
The jaw and facial bones in children are still actively growing, which makes them far more responsive to orthodontic guidance than adult bone structure. Addressing alignment, spacing, or jaw development concerns during this window of growth allows for more predictable results with less effort. Once the jaw stops growing, corrections require more significant intervention. Interceptive orthodontics takes advantage of this natural growth period to set the foundation for a healthier bite and a straighter smile.
Yes. Prolonged thumbsucking, tongue pushing, and mouth breathing can all affect how the teeth and jaw develop over time. These habits can push the front teeth forward, narrow the upper jaw, and interfere with how the upper and lower teeth come together. When caught early, the effects of these habits can often be corrected with interceptive orthodontic appliances. Dr. Jobe will assess whether any habits are contributing to your child’s dental development concerns during their evaluation at our St. Louis office.
Orthodontic evaluations are part of the comprehensive pediatric dental care offered at Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. If your child is approaching age seven, showing early signs of orthodontic concerns, or you simply want peace of mind about their dental development, we welcome you to schedule an appointment. Call us at (314) 270-5817 or book online. Our office is located at 9735 Landmark Parkway Dr., Suite 16, St. Louis, MO 63127.
Have more questions about your child’s dental health? Contact St. Louis, MO’s award-winning Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Kelly Jobe!
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Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
9735 Landmark Parkway Dr.
Suite #16 St. Louis, MO 63127 - (314) 270-5817
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