Pediatric Interceptive Orthodontics – Casper, WY
Addressing Early Dental Issues for Better Oral Health
Pediatric dentists must have a firm grasp on how a child’s oral and facial features develop. Advanced training, experience, and educational pursuits ensure that appropriate diagnoses and treatment are administered early to reduce the risk of invasive and complex oral healthcare down the road. If Dr. Paulson determines that your child’s jaw is misaligned or their teeth may not move into their proper place upon eruption, he may recommend pediatric interceptive orthodontics – a type of pediatric dentistry that focuses on addressing common orthodontic issues before they become significant problems. If you are curious whether your child’s growing smile might need proper guidance, call our office to schedule an appointment today.
What is Interceptive Orthodontics?
Interceptive orthodontics is used to address dental issues that can occur during the early stages of oral development, improving your child’s chances of avoiding more complex and extensive treatment in the future.
At Casper Children’s Dental Clinic, Dr. Paulson’s experience and advanced training in this method of care allow him to closely monitor, observe, and fix issues related to facial symmetry, TMJ, smile esthetics, and more.
Which Issues Does It Address?
Many dental issues can develop in the smiles of young children, which is why it’s important to have a trustworthy and reputable pediatric dentist like Dr. Paulson. His ability to pinpoint early signs that can lead to more serious and troublesome alignment issues allows him to recommend treatment that can address the following issues:
Malocclusion
If your child’s upper or lower teeth are not properly aligned, they have what is considered malocclusion. This can cause difficulties eating and speaking, often causing speech impediments. With early intervention, though, we can mitigate occlusal problems that would otherwise make daily life more challenging.
Dental Crowding
Teeth that sit too close to each other are viewed as being “crowded.” The lack of space between them can make it difficult for your child to properly clean their teeth and gumline, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease. With interceptive orthodontics, Dr. Paulson can encourage teeth to move so that just enough space is created, and proper alignment is achieved.
Spacing Issues
If crowding and malocclusion are not the problem, it may be that your child’s teeth are too far apart. This type of spacing issue – gaps – can negatively impact their appearance, which can lead to lowering self-esteem. It can also make certain oral functions more challenging because of how easy it is for food debris to become trapped. With early interceptive orthodontics, we can close the gaps, generate greater confidence, and create more fluid bite movement.
How Does Interceptive Orthodontics Work?
Since this type of pediatric dentistry is generally administered once a child’s permanent teeth are beginning to erupt, Dr. Paulson can easily tell if possible orthodontic issues may exist in the future. After completing his evaluation, he will determine if interceptive orthodontics are necessary. If so, he will provide a formal diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan to address their malocclusion.
Using appropriate methods to guide your child’s jaw growth and permanent tooth eruption, he can improve their facial symmetry and create a more balanced, functional, and aesthetically pleasing smile.
Depending on the type of problem he is trying to address, he may utilize interceptive orthodontic appliances in concert with future comprehensive orthodontic treatment to ensure the most esthetic facial proportions, lip size, smile width, and bite stability. The type of appliances he may use includes space maintainers, a palate expander, a habit corrector (to discourage thumb-sucking or pacifier use), or another unique device.