Allows the dentist to prevent irregularities and malposition of the teeth in the developing dentition
Preventive orthodontic treatment is intended to keep a malocclusion (“bad bite” or crooked teeth) from developing in an otherwise normal mouth. It is the action taken to preserve the integrity of what appears to be a normal occlusion at a specific time.
The purposes of preventive orthodontics, which constitute the large part of preventive dentistry applications are; monitoring the changes in the jaw and teeth occurring with growth and development, provision the ideal occlusion of permanent teeth by applying protective, inhibitor and the regulatory treatment in time. Disorders that may occur in the jaw and teeth should be determined in time in order to ensure a full and healthy occlusion.
This practice of orthodontics allows us to prevent or eliminate irregularities & malposition of the teeth in the developing dentition.
Since prevention is better than cure, preventive orthodontics is becoming more popular. As stated above, it aims to eliminate future hindrances of growing a healthy jaw and teeth. Therefore, it is practised in an early stage (teeth development stage) wherein professionals create a favorable condition for the eruption of future permanent teeth. One way to do this is by removing a primary tooth which can distract the proper eruption of the patients’ permanent tooth.
Another method also involves using a space maintainer in cases when the primary tooth was lost too early. The space maintainer can help hold the space for the future permanent tooth that is yet to erupt.