Interceptive treatment
Early Orthodontics for Children
At Maple Ridge Orthodontics, we believe that a healthy smile begins with early awareness. By identifying orthodontic concerns early, we can take proactive steps to guide your child’s teeth and jaws into proper alignment—helping their smile grow in a healthy, balanced way.
Guiding Growing Smiles
Welcome to our Early Growth Guidance Program, designed especially for children.
We offer orthodontic assessments and ongoing monitoring to ensure your child’s smile develops on track.
Children are encouraged to have their first orthodontic consultation around age seven. During this visit, we’ll evaluate the growth and development of the teeth, bite, and jaws to determine whether any treatment is needed.
Complimentary Growth and Development Check-Ups
If early treatment is not required, your child will be scheduled for complimentary growth and development check-ups every 6 to 12 months until the timing is right for full orthodontic care.
Our goal is to intervene only when necessary—typically in cases involving:
- Crossbites or underbites
- Space loss from early tooth loss
- Teeth that are not erupting properly
- Jaw growth discrepancies
When early intervention is recommended, we use gentle, age-appropriate approaches that help minimize the need for more complex orthodontic treatment later on.
Interceptive Appliances
Early orthodontic treatment can take many simple and effective forms—often without braces.
Depending on your child’s needs, we may recommend one or more of the following appliances:
- Palatal Expander – Widens the upper jaw to correct crossbites and create space for erupting teeth
- Retainers – Helps guide teeth and maintain proper alignment
- Holding Arches – Preserves space for permanent teeth after early loss of baby teeth
Bite Plates – Corrects deep bites and helps improve jaw function - Reverse-Pull Headgear – Encourages forward growth of the upper jaw in select cases
At Maple Ridge Orthodontics, we’re passionate about helping children grow healthy, confident smiles that last a lifetime.
Ready to Start Your Child's Journey?
Your first consultation is 100% free. Let’s sit down, discuss your goals, and show you what’s possible. No pressure, just a path to a better smile.