Most orthodontic problems are best treated with conventional braces shortly after the last baby tooth has been shed. This usually occurs between the ages of 11-14 years.
However, early orthodontic treatment is effective and desirable in certain situations. Providing a child is mature enough to cope with treatment, the following orthodontic problems are usually indicated for treatment as soon as they are noticed:
-
A crossbite of the back teeth or front teeth
- An extremely narrow upper dental arch
- Inadequate growth and development of the midface
- Severe crowding or tipping which prevents the normal eruption of adult teeth
- Adult front teeth which are protruding excessively and are therefore in danger of being damaged as a result of trauma or other injury
- An adult tooth which is erupting in the wrong direction
- A front tooth having a very receeded gum line due to its unfavorable position in the arch
- Habits (such as thumb or finger sucking and tongue-thrusting) which influence tooth position
Early treatment does not necessarily eliminate the need for further treatment, but aims to reduce the complexity of any future treatment.