The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist no later than age seven to evaluate if orthodontic treatment is necessary and when to begin treatment. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and cross bites, crowding, and other problems can be evaluated.

With early treatment, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and 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 likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. Treating children with orthodontic problems while they are young and growing allows us to achieve results that may not be possible when face and jaw bones are fully developed. In other words, early treatment, when necessary, offers many advantages.