For Children
It is best for the orthodontist to see children by age 7 to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and to determine the best time for that patient to be treated. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time, allowing for crossbites, crowding, and other problems to be evaluated.
When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaws and can guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment.
