Early Orthodontic Treatment
Interceptive orthodontic evaluation starting at age seven, as recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist as early as age seven. Early orthodontic treatment — sometimes called Phase I treatment — allows the orthodontist to identify developing skeletal and dental discrepancies while a child still has a mix of primary and permanent teeth. Intervening at this stage can guide jaw growth, create space for erupting teeth, and reduce the complexity or duration of later comprehensive treatment. Not every child will require early intervention, but an evaluation provides the information needed to determine the right timing for each patient.