Early Interception
Orthodontic screening by age 7
American Association of Orthodontists’ Recommendation for Early Orthodontic Screening by the time a child turns seven years old.
For those patients who have clear indications for early intervention, early treatment presents the opportunity to:
Influence jaw growth in a positive manner
Harmonize width of the dental arches
Improve eruption patterns
Lower risk of trauma to protruded upper incisors
Correct harmful oral habits
Improve aesthetics and self-esteem
Simplify and/or shorten treatment time for later corrective orthodontics
Reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth
Improve some speech problems
Preserve or gain space for erupting permanent teeth