Durham & Oxford, NCEarly Orthodontics
Intercepting Orthodontic Issues Early
Did you know that the American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children visit an orthodontist by the time they turn 7 years old? Our team at Wilson Orthodontics is proud to offer several age-appropriate treatment options for your little ones. Early Treatment, or Interceptive treatment, focuses on correcting orthodontic issues in children with both adult teeth and baby teeth. With an early evaluation, Dr. Wilson and his team can examine your child’s smile and assess if they need Interceptive treatment.
What Does Early Treatment Involve?
At Wilson Orthodontics, our team strategically uses early treatment to prevent abnormal development and to correct orthodontic issues before they become more complex. At Wilson Orthodontics, we use expanders, limited braces, space maintainers, and other orthodontic appliances to correct specific problem areas and to guide correct development in the future. After your child finishes their early treatment, we will continue to evaluate their growth and development over time to determine if any further treatment is necessary.
Palatal Expanders
Palatal Expanders help us to gently widen your child’s arch and act as a guide for proper jaw development, creating ample space for your child’s permanent teeth.
Palatal Expanders
Limited Braces
Limited braces are used to help straighten or move a specific set of teeth and are placed on a single tooth or a few teeth to encourage proper alignment.
Limited Braces
Space Maintainers
Just as the name suggests, space maintainers hold the place of a missing tooth until the permanent tooth grows in, preventing the surrounding teeth from shifting.
Space
Maintainers
Building the Foundation to Better Smiles
At Wilson Orthodontics, the benefits of early treatment go far beyond the aesthetics of your child’s smile and extend into the foundation of their oral health. Dr. Wilson believes using a proactive approach during the developmental years can address issues early and can lay the foundation for a great smile as your child continues to grow.
AAO Member
1000+ Successful Cases
Still Have Questions?
Our team at Wilson Orthodontics understands that we will be your little one’s first orthodontic experience, and we want to make that a positive and enjoyable experience! We think it is super helpful for parents to talk about and explain the orthodontic process before they bring their kid into the office, that way they know what to expect. For you to do this, we want to make sure you are properly informed and have all of your questions answered. Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions about early treatment. If you have any additional questions, or if you would like any clarity, please reach out to our office today.
When should my child start early treatment?
According to the American Association of Orthodontics, all children should visit an orthodontist by age 7. We encourage parents to bring their little ones in for an early treatment evaluation as soon as their kiddo is able to sit still for an x-ray.
What issues can early orthodontic treatment correct?
Common issues early treatment is used to treat include open bites, crossbites, underbites, overbites, speech impediments, and oral habits, (such as thumb sucking.)
How long does early treatment last?
Each treatment time will depend on the complexity of your child’s case, but on average most cases last anywhere from 6 to 12 months.