What is the orthodontic treatment of interceptive phase?

It is an orthodontic treatment of occlusion issues to restore the harmonious development of the teeth and jaw of the child. The goal is to facilitate the growth of permanent teeth. This type of treatment must absolutely be in place before all the baby teeth fall out. It is called the “interceptive phase” because it often requires further corrections. The final position of the teeth is often determined by an orthodontic treatment of phase II (braces placement or Invisalign® treatment).

Why use this treatment?

For children aged 6 to 10 years old with a narrow palate or skeletal problem, an orthodontic screening test is performed to identify if the child needs treatment. Several reasons lead to this type of intervention since it avoids:

• Teeth shifting because of an imbalance in the width of the jaw.
• A loss of space following the fall of the baby teeth.
• Displacements or dental deformities caused by the habit of sucking their thumb.
• Teeth wear caused by the closure of the upper dentition on the lower.
• Risk of speech or chewing problems if the anterior teeth do not touch.
• Cosmetic problems due to the misalignment of the dentition.