Skip to content
COMPLIMENTARY CONSULT
  • (304) 201-3672
  • Payment Calculator
  • Refer a Patient
  • Our Practice
    • Who We Are
    • What Makes Us Different
    • Meet Our Doctors
    • Meet Our Team
    • Technology
    • Community Involvement
    • Refer a Patient
    • Patient Reviews
  • Orthodontics
        • Braces
          • Types Of Braces
          • Braces For Kids
          • Braces For Teens
          • Braces For Adults
          • Braces FAQ
          • Payment Calculator
        • Invisalign
          • About Invisalign
          • Invisalign For Kids
          • Invisalign For Teens
          • Invisalign For Adults
          • Invisalign FAQ
          • Payment Calculator
        • Other Treatments
          • Early Orthodontics
          • Brava Independent Movers
          • Gum Contouring & Reshaping
          • Enamel Shaping
          • Zoom Whitening
  • Patient Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Patient Forms
    • Refer a Patient
    • Brace Bucks
    • 7andUp Kids Club
    • Financial Information
    • Orthodontic Emergencies
    • Orthodontic FAQ
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Info
    • Charleston, WV
    • Hurricane, WV
    • Huntington, WV
    • Ashland, KY
  • COMPLIMENTARY CONSULT
  • Our Practice
    • Who We Are
    • What Makes Us Different
    • Meet Our Doctors
    • Meet Our Team
    • Technology
    • Community Involvement
    • Refer a Patient
    • Patient Reviews
  • Orthodontics
    • Braces
      • Types Of Braces
      • Braces For Kids
      • Braces For Teens
      • Braces For Adults
      • Braces FAQ
      • Payment Calculator
    • Invisalign
      • About Invisalign
      • Invisalign For Kids
      • Invisalign For Teens
      • Invisalign For Adults
      • Invisalign FAQ
      • Payment Calculator
    • Other Treatments
      • Early Orthodontics
      • Brava Independent Movers
      • Gum Contouring & Reshaping
      • Enamel Shaping
      • Zoom Whitening
  • Patient Resources
    • Your First Visit
    • Patient Forms
    • Refer a Patient
    • Brace Bucks
    • 7andUp Kids Club
    • Financial Information
    • Orthodontic Emergencies
    • Orthodontic FAQ
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Info
    • Charleston, WV
    • Hurricane, WV
    • Huntington, WV
    • Ashland, KY
  • (304) 407-3371
  • Payment Calculator
  • Refer a Patient
Complimentary Consult
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Tiktok
  • Youtube

Early Orthodontic Intervention

Live Life Smiling

ortho-intervention for kids
  • Holmes and Palmer Orthodontics
  • March 16, 2022

 

PICTURE SOMEONE WITH braces. Did you imagine a teenager with rows of colorful brackets? While it’s true that most orthodontic patients are teenagers, orthodontists also work with adults, as well as providing interceptive orthodontic treatment for younger children.

Interceptive orthodontics can reduce the need for jaw surgery or tooth extraction, it can correct certain problems as they appear (before they can get worse), shorten the length of later orthodontic treatment, encourage better facial development, and pave the way for a better final result.

We Head Off Problems Early With Interceptive Orthodontics

The conventional wisdom is that orthodontic treatment can’t start until all the adult teeth have emerged, but certain problems with alignment, bite, and facial development can appear long before the full set of adult teeth. An orthodontist can help a child’s jawbones grow properly so that there will be enough room for all the adult teeth and a better structure for a healthy bite. When we correct malocclusions (bad bites) as they appear, it makes future treatment faster, easier, and sometimes unnecessary!

What Causes a Malocclusion?

Harmful habits like thumb sucking, nail-biting, tongue thrusting, and mouth breathing can all contribute to a bad bite by leading to a narrow upper arch, an underdeveloped lower jaw, an open bite, a deep bite, or dental crowding. These can all make it more difficult to speak clearly or chew and swallow effectively. The main goal of early orthodontic intervention is to repair the damage caused by these habits and stop the habits themselves so the adult teeth can grow in how they should.

How can bad habits affect oral health? Lots of ways:

What Are Typical Interceptive Orthodontic Treatments?

The biggest difference between phase 1 and phase 2 orthodontics is that phase 1 treatments don’t involve actual braces. Those can wait until later — if they’re still needed by then. Common treatments in interceptive orthodontics (phase 1):

  • Eliminating a crossbite with upper jaw expansion
  • Expansion of one or both jaws to make more room for adult teeth
  • Early extraction of specific baby teeth to help the adult teeth come in
  • Holding space open for permanent teeth after the early loss of a baby tooth
  • Reducing the protrusion of upper teeth to protect them from trauma

What Makes a Child a Good Candidate for Interceptive Orthodontics?

Early orthodontic intervention won’t correct every type of orthodontic issue, so the best way to find out if it would benefit your child is to bring them in for a consultation around age 7, particularly if you’ve noticed any obvious problems with their bite or if they have one of the harmful oral health habits we mentioned. Until then (and always), look out for their oral health by encouraging good brushing and flossing!

Helping our patients achieve healthy smiles for life is our top priority!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

REQUEST A CONSULT

LET’S GET STARTED!

Complimentary consult
Patient reviews

EVERY SMILE TELLS A SPECIAL STORY

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our community with excellent care and take pride in our mission of having a patient-centered philosophy. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

READ more
jonathan C.
Super friendly and was always willing to answer any questions we had on our journey with braces. They took time to answer any questions we had.
jonathan C.
Super friendly and was always willing to answer any questions we had on our journey with braces. They took time to answer any questions we had.
Christina S.
Very family friendly atmosphere! Fun office! Love how laid back and kind everyone is! 10/10 recommend!
Christina S.
Very family friendly atmosphere! Fun office! Love how laid back and kind everyone is! 10/10 recommend!
Sheri S.
I got my 1st set of Invisalign at Holmes & Palmer, Huntington office this week. The assistant talked me through the whole process and helped me practice getting them out. Putting them in is not an issue. They are tight. Getting them out the first several times was difficult. The pull tool they gave me didn't have a thin enough point to put under the edge of mine to pop them up. I hope they will give future patients a Pul Bite Me original pultool+chewtool. It has a narrow point that works perfectly. If you don't have long fingernails or don't want to break your nails, it's what you need. Sorry for the sales pitch but I honestly don't think I could get them out on my own without it. I don't have to go back for an appointment until mid October unless I'm having an issue. It's nice not to have to go for tightenings frequently, like my son had to with traditional braces. I called back with a couple of follow up questions and the lady who answered the phone was very helpful. She said she'd worn Invisaligns, also.
Sheri S.
I got my 1st set of Invisalign at Holmes & Palmer, Huntington office this week. The assistant talked me through the whole process and helped me practice getting them out. Putting them in is not an issue. They are tight. Getting them out the first several times was difficult. The pull tool they gave me didn't have a thin enough point to put under the edge of mine to pop them up. I hope they will give future patients a Pul Bite Me original pultool+chewtool. It has a narrow point that works perfectly. If you don't have long fingernails or don't want to break your nails, it's what you need. Sorry for the sales pitch but I honestly don't think I could get them out on my own without it. I don't have to go back for an appointment until mid October unless I'm having an issue. It's nice not to have to go for tightenings frequently, like my son had to with traditional braces. I called back with a couple of follow up questions and the lady who answered the phone was very helpful. She said she'd worn Invisaligns, also.
tiffany S.
Everyone there was very welcoming! They explained everything that would happen with treatment. We can't wait to start the process!
tiffany S.
Everyone there was very welcoming! They explained everything that would happen with treatment. We can't wait to start the process!
Eileen M.
Excellent communication, pleasant front desk. My child LOVES to go to the orthodontist! The Ortho/Dental group make sure that there is always something interactive going on that encourages a positive attitude towards going there. I can’t say enough positive things about their practice with children. 👍🏼
Eileen M.
Excellent communication, pleasant front desk. My child LOVES to go to the orthodontist! The Ortho/Dental group make sure that there is always something interactive going on that encourages a positive attitude towards going there. I can’t say enough positive things about their practice with children. 👍🏼
Shandale D.
My little boy, Daniel has been going here for about a month now and we love it. Super friendly staff, & just an all around friendly environment.
Shandale D.
My little boy, Daniel has been going here for about a month now and we love it. Super friendly staff, & just an all around friendly environment.
Morgan S.
My daughter loves this place, everyone is so nice and welcoming. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.
Morgan S.
My daughter loves this place, everyone is so nice and welcoming. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.
Vicki H.
Amelia has started her Orthodontic experience here! Great staff, friendly, professional, and extremely clean!
Our locations

Come by one of Our offices

  • Charleston, WV
  • 867 Oakwood Road
    Charleston, WV 25314
  • (304) 343-3672
Huntington office
  • Hurricane (Teays Valley), WV
  • 3659 Teays Valley Road Suite 200
    Hurricane, WV 25526
  • (304) 201-3672
Hurricane office
  • Huntington, WV
  • 451 Kinetic Drive Suite 200
    Huntington, WV 25701
  • (304) 343-3672
Charleston office
  • Ashland, KY
  • 2000 Carter Ave.
    Ashland, KY 41101
  • 606-388-2561

Charleston

Hurricane

Huntington

Ashland

Complimentary Consult

QUICK LINKS

Main Menu
  • Our Practice
  • Orthodontics
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact Us

LOCATIONS

  • Charleston, WV
  • Hurricane, WV
  • Huntington, WV
  • Ashland, KY
  • (304) 201-3672

CONTACT HOURS

Monday8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday8:00am – 11:00am

FOLLOW US

Complimentary Consult
© Copyright 2025 Holmes & Palmer Orthodontics | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Accessibility

Marketing & Web Design by HIP