Early orthodontic treatment

Some of the orthodontic problems require the early intervention of the orthodontist. The term "early" means that the treatment is provided while the patient is in the mixed dentition (the patient has permanent and "baby" teeth in his mouth). The early intervention does not necessarily eliminate the need for future treatment but it guarantees the alleviation of the future problem (i.e. avoid extraction of permanent teeth, avoid skeletal asymmetries, etc).

The following situations require early intervention:
- Lack of spaces for the eruption of permanent teeth: the treatment objective is to create space to facilitate the eruption of all permanent teeth; therefore it prevents extractions of permanent teeth.

- Upper front teeth that "stick out" too much: the treatment objective is to improve the position of the front teeth to protect them from trauma.



- Posterior cross – bites (upper posterior teeth are inside the lower teeth): this situation consists of skeletal narrowness of the upper jaw. The treatment objective is to expand (widen) the upper jaw to provide normal relationship between the upper and lower posterior teeth and therefore prevent skeletal asymmetry of the lower jaw.
- Anterior cross – bites (upper anterior teeth are behind the lower teeth): the treatment objective is to provide the normal relationship between the upper and lower anterior teeth to prevent any periodontal or severe skeletal discrepancy between the jaws, that might require surgical correction after the growth is completed.
- Premature loss of deciduous (baby) teeth: the treatment objective is to maintain (where it is needed) the space for the eruption of the permanent teeth to prevent severe crowding and impactions of permanent teeth.