Preventive and interceptive orthodontics: review of its importance

Background: After a century of development and evolution of orthodontics as a science, through global dissemination of Facial Orthopedics procedures we come on the eve of the 3rd Millennium without a unanimous consensus on this issue. Using simple preventive and interceptive orthodontic procedures such as those aimed at maintaining space or its recovery, control of oral habits, and treatment of cross bite and open bite, can prevent or lessen the severity malocclusion. Thus, the early diagnosis of conditions affecting the normal development of dental occlusion can contribute to significantly reduce the incidence of malocclusions.
Objective: This study aimed to make a literature review on preventive and interceptive orthodontics, showing the advantages of this specialty as well as presenting the gaps in information that motivate the improvement and advancement of this prophylaxis.
Methodology: We performed a detailed search of scientific articles with themes common across a database, including the Medline, Pubmed, scielo and bireme with publication of criteria in 1999 will 2015.
Conclusion: It was concluded through the literature findings that preventive and interceptative orthodontic services facilitates the population's access to treatment, allowing the elimination of some etiologic factors and preventing the progression of dental, skeletal and functional inharmonies, mitigating or even eliminating the need for more complex treatments thereafter.