Phases of orthodontic intervention

Preventive Orthodontics: Focuses on early intervention, often at a young age, to prevent future dental problems. It usually involves simple measures taken during the eruption of the first permanent teeth.

Interceptive Orthodontics: Occurs during the mixed dentition phase, when both primary and permanent teeth are present. The goal is to address existing orthodontic problems before they worsen, often with interventions like jaw expansion.

Comprehensive Orthodontics: This is the final phase, which addresses and corrects all bite and dental alignment issues using fixed orthodontic appliances (like braces) or removables (like clear aligners). It’s typically done once all the baby teeth have been replaced with permanent teeth.

These phases allow orthodontists to treat issues progressively, depending on the patient’s stage of dental and physical development.