Interceptive Pediatric Orthodontics
Habit Appliance
A habit appliance is useful to help stop a thumb or finger habit and/or to help re-train an improper tongue position or swallowing pattern. It is sometimes necessary to place an appliance to minimize the harm and distortion the habits or tongue posture can have on teeth. Most habit appliances are banded for adhesion to the back molars and are not removable.
Space Maintenance
Baby teeth act as a guide for the eruption of the permanent teeth. If a primary (baby) tooth (typically a molar) is lost prematurely, a space maintainer can hold the space open for the permanent tooth. Made of stainless steel and/or plastic and either removable or fixed, a space maintainer will help prevent other teeth from drifting into an empty tooth space that has been created by the early loss of primary (baby) teeth.