The American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontist no later than age 7. Not all patients are candidates for early treatment. For most patients, the opportunity for periodic evaluation by the orthodontist during growth and development will allow the appropriate treatment to be initiated at the appropriate time.
Early treatment? before all permanent teeth have erupted? may also provide protection for those permanent teeth? particularly with regard to trauma.
Other patients will benefit from early intervention to improve eruption patterns? preserving or gaining space for erupting permanent teeth. Early treatment can help correct harmful oral habits? something we want to treat while the patient is growing.
And for some patients, early intervention can have more than physical benefits. There are psycho-social concerns ? some patients may be subject to teasing, which can have a damaging and long-lasting effect on the patient?s self-concept. For some, there may be immediate and long-term periodontal concerns. And, some conditions are more easily treated while the patient is growing.