Early Intervention

Proactively making a difference in your child's life.

Timing Is Everything

When it comes to your child's oral health being proactive could make all the difference.
A young patient on a treatment chair wearing braces sitting next to Monique
Early treatment, or what Dr. Chris calls “pre-orthodontic guidance,” means treatment that is performed while some baby teeth are still present.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that your child’s first check-up be performed when an orthodontic problem is first recognized, around age seven or eight. Why so early?

At this point, your child has enough permanent teeth for Dr. Chris to evaluate the developing teeth and jaw, which in turn, can provide a wealth of information. Our orthodontist in Attleboro, MA is trained to spot subtle problems even in young children.

There are generally three outcomes of an initial check-up:

  • No treatment is expected to be necessary
  • Treatment may be needed in the future, so the child will be monitored periodically while the face and jaw continues to grow
  • There is a problem that lends itself to early treatment
While most orthodontic problems are best treated after all permanent teeth have come in, early treatment can be in a patient’s best interests if their problem is one that could become more serious over time if left untreated.
Monique our dental assistant smiling sitting next to a young patient

Pre-Orthodontic Guidance

Early treatment could be the cure.
Young patient laying on a treatment chair looking back waving at the camera

Interception

The goal of pre-orthodontic guidance is to intercept the developing problem, eliminate the cause, guide the growth of facial and jaw bones, and provide adequate space for incoming permanent teeth. In most instances, the patient will require a second course of treatment when all permanent teeth have erupted.
Shelia our treatment coordinator smiling at a young patient

Treatment

The small handful of problems Dr. Chris may recommend treating while a child still has some baby teeth include:
  • Underbites (when the lower front teeth are ahead of the upper front teeth)
  • Crossbites (when the jaw shifts to one side)
  • Very crowded teeth
  • Excessively spaced teeth
  • Teeth that meet abnormally or don’t meet at all
  • Thumb-sucking or pacifier-sucking that is affecting the teeth or jaw growth
Some of these orthodontic problems are inherited, while others may result from accidents, dental disease, or airway obstruction.
Shelia our treatment coordinator smiling at a young patient
Holly our dental assistant laughing and communicating with a patient and his parents

Monitoring

Whether treatment has been taken or not, Dr. Chris will continue to monitor any concerns or potential risks. As your child grows, he may recommend interceptive care or plan for future orthodontic treatment.

Regardless, your family is not alone. We partner with you during your child’s development so we can make any adjustments when needed.

This is an amazing family business! My family has always been given the best care and service with a smile. I would recommend Dr. Chris and his team to everyone I know!

Lerin P. (Peluso Patient)

It Only Takes a Check-Up

Schedule your child in for a consultation with Dr. Peluso.

Lisa our treatment & insurance coordinator sitting at a desk in front of a computer smiling
There is no need to feel apprehensive about bringing your child to our office. Dr. Chris and our team are specialists in this area of dentistry and have amassed years of experience working with kids. If there is something to be addressed, we’ll explain it clearly and identify the best plan to move forward.

Early orthodontic treatment can take many forms. Dr. Chris may recommend a short course of braces, a motion 3D appliance, or expansion appliances. Sometimes no appliances are necessary at all. Instead, removal of some baby teeth may help with permanent tooth eruption. The extractions will be timed to take the best advantage of a patient’s growth and development.

Regardless of how treatment goals are reached, the bottom line is that some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if they are found and treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in, or until facial growth is nearly complete, may make some corrections more difficult.

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