Many developmental problems in children can be corrected more easily during childhood than during adolescence and adulthood. An example of this is interceptive orthodontics, which, applied only in children, guides or corrects the growth of teeth and jaw bones for optimal development.

In order for the treatment to have the maximum effect on the little ones, it is very important to put yourself in the hands of a qualified expert and, of course, to follow the care and maintenance recommendations.

It is becoming increasingly common to treat malocclusion problems at an early age, thanks to the new treatments available today. Find out everything you need to know about interceptive orthodontics with this complete guide.

What is interceptive orthodontics?

It is a type of pediatric orthodontics that is performed with the objective of correcting all types of malocclusions that can be detected and treated early. In this way it is much more effective to intervene when the patient is in a crucial stage of development and growth.

Thanks to interceptive orthodontics, also known as functional orthodontics for children, it is possible to control the size, shape and position of the jawbone, favoring a correct position of the teeth in the future.

It is important to treat the patient when he/she is in the mixed dentition stage, when he/she still has baby teeth before the change to permanent dentition, since the bone is much more flexible.

Interceptive orthodontics in children

Interceptive orthodontics is a treatment recommended for children between the ages of 6 and 12, guiding the correct development and growth of the jaw bones. It corrects problems related to the position of bones and teeth before reaching adulthood, ensuring better results, in a shorter time and with a much less invasive intervention.

Thanks to regular check-ups of children at this stage, it is possible to detect in advance possible malformations that may appear later with respect to the definitive dentition. This is an excellent way to anticipate later treatments, minimizing the effect at different levels and achieving better esthetic and functional results.

How does it work?

Interceptive orthodontics for children consists of the placement of an orthodontic appliance that can be fixed or removable. This device has the function of 'intercepting' the growth process of the maxillofacial structure, preventing or correcting future occlusion or bite problems that have been detected after a previous diagnosis.

Many children who undergo interceptive orthodontic treatment will have to wear a conventional brace after their treatment. This is because interceptive orthodontics is a preliminary step that prepares the child's mouth for subsequent corrective treatment.

Interceptive orthodontics specifically corrects bone growth without correcting the position of the teeth. In any case, it shortens the corrective orthodontic treatment, solving more serious problems that are easier to narrow down in the early childhood stage.

In what cases and at what age is it indicated?

Interceptive orthodontic treatments for children are done in a completely individualized manner, attending to the specific needs of each patient. Among the most common corrections that are usually performed we can highlight the following:

• Opening of the maxillary bone when the dental arch is too closed, or vice versa, if the dental arch is too large.
• Expansion of the upper or lower arch space to accommodate the eruption of permanent teeth, avoiding crowding.
• Correction of malformations of skeletal origin, improving the position of the maxillary bones.
• Correction of malocclusions that in the future could only be treated with surgery.
• Elimination of habits developed in the baby stage, such as digital sucking (thumb sucking), tongue thrusting that prevents the mouth from closing completely or mouth breathing, among others.

It is recommended that children have their first visit with the orthodontist from 6 or 7 years of age to make an assessment of the state of the teeth and jaw development. If any anomaly is detected, the best time to wear interceptive braces is between the ages of 6 and 12, when oral maturity is reached.

How long does the treatment last?

The duration of treatment will depend on the nature of the problem being treated. The average duration of this intervention is estimated to be between 6 and 18 months for most children.

It is important to follow the orthodontist's recommendations to the letter, so that children wear the devices correctly and for the indicated time, especially if they are removable appliances.

Types of interceptive orthodontics

Depending on the needs of each child, two types of appliances can be used in interceptive orthodontics : fixed or removable. These will have a different shape and function adapted to the type of correction required by the patient.

Fixed devices

Among the fixed appliances we can find some common ones such as the buccal switch or palatal expander, the extraoral anchor, the facial mask or the chin guard. They are appliances that attract a lot of attention at first sight, since all of them are placed externally with the exception of the mouth disjunctor and the expander.

Removable devices

Much more discreet and comfortable to use on a daily basis are removable appliances, such as the removable plate or false palate. This device is placed on the palate, exerting progressive pressure to move the bone and make more space in the upper arch.

It is very important that both fixed and removable children's interceptive orthodontic appliances follow proper care and maintenance. For this purpose, there are special special oral hygiene products for orthodontics, adapted to the needs of patients with fixed orthodontics.adapted to the needs of patients with fixed or removable orthodontic appliances, such as the OrthoKIN.

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Benefits of interceptive orthodontics in children

This oral correction treatment provides both short and long term benefits. Among them we can highlight the following:

• Achieve facial harmony in the shape of the child's face.
• It has functional benefits in terms of chewing and phonetics.
• It is a much less invasive treatment than those that would be applied in the adolescent or adult stage.
• Facilitates the effectiveness of subsequent treatments.
• Avoids the need for orthognathic surgery.
• Prepares the jaw structure for tooth replacement.
• The results are excellent and much faster.

If you have any doubts about interceptive orthodontics, its application and which treatments are most suitable for each case, it is best to consult directly with a specialized professional. Thanks to the advances in orthodontics that have occurred in recent years, this technique is increasingly used in the correction of common problems in children.