When people think about orthodontics, they inevitably think of braces. Even though modern dentistry brings alternative orthodontic treatments like Invisalign, those metal braces stand out in people’s minds.

However, there are times when waiting until you’re in your teens to get orthodontic treatment is a bad idea. It can be clear early on that you will need orthodontic care. When this is the case, it can make sense to get preventive orthodontics and address the problem proactively.

Call Orthodontic Alliances today at 219-809-6584 to schedule your next dental exam. Our team of Indiana dentists will thoroughly examine your child’s teeth to see how the permanent ones are coming in. If a problem is clearly happening, preventive orthodontics can end up saving you both time and money.

What Are Preventive Orthodontics?

As with many things in life, preparing for and preventing problems is often better than reacting to them. That’s why you need to take care of your car. Regular oil changes and maintenance can prevent big and expensive problems later on.

The same is true for your smile. When you are very young, your teeth are still settling in. They can move around a bit, leaving you with crooked, misaligned teeth. That’s why it’s recommended that your children visit our Indiana dentists by age seven.

By doing so, your children can get a thorough exam with digital X-rays to see how the permanent teeth are settling in. Using that data, our Indiana dentists can then work with you both to create a treatment plan that prevents problems from happening.

That’s exactly what preventive orthodontics is all about; preventing orthodontic problems before they get worse.

Why You Can Benefit From Preventive Orthodontics

One of the biggest benefits you can get from this is saving money. By taking care of orthodontics before your child’s teeth get very bad, it’s generally more affordable. That can mean a lot to you.

But it’s more than just the cost. Braces work great at repositioning teeth, but they can be a pain for teens to wear for 2-3 years. There are times with preventive orthodontics can eliminate the need for braces entirely. That means your child can be more comfortable, both physically and socially.

However, there are also people who can benefit from preventive orthodontics because they need help early on. Baby teeth rarely come in on their own correctly. Some even never fall out. Leaving these problems in your child’s mouth can lead to more dental problems, including irregularly worn enamel and TMJ pain.

Think of it this way. If you knew your child was going to get hungry, would you rather feed them before they get super hungry or wait until the hunger becomes bad? Preventive orthodontics save you money, but it also saves time and effort.

Orthodontic Treatments For Preventive Orthodontics

But what kind of treatments can you get to prevent problems? Everyone’s mouth is unique, so there is no set treatment for preventive orthodontics. It all depends on what’s going on with your child’s teeth.

  • If the baby teeth do not come out on their own, they may need to be removed. Doing this early on can help the adult teeth come in straighter and more aligned like they should.
  • If an adult tooth never appears, space maintainers can help keep the other teeth in the right position until you can get a replacement tooth placed in that gap.
  • Baby teeth help guide the adult ones. If your child lost a baby tooth way too soon, space maintainers can be used to give that adult tooth the room it needs to come in correctly.
  • Thumb sucking can drag teeth out of their right position and can even make the front teeth stick out some. Our Indiana dentists can use a special, small bar behind the front teeth so they are not moved by thumb sucking.
  • Because adult teeth can come in incorrectly, your child can get special equipment to help them come in the right way. This can often remove the need for braces entirely.

Call us TODAY at 219-809-6584 and schedule your orthodontic appointment. You can also request an appointment online. Preventive orthodontics is a great way to save you some money while helping your children. Isn’t that a great win-win?