Orthodontic treatment for young children

Many major orthodontic problems can be minimised by early diagnosis and treatment of children before any permanent teeth are present. Often 6 to 8 year old children show the clear evidence of narrow jaws and crowded baby teeth which, if treated with internal orthopaedic appliances while the jaws are still developing will enable the tongue and muscle forces to guide the permanent teeth into a natural and healthy position. This interceptive treatment can often mean a great reduction in the number of cases requiring fixed orthodontic bracket systems or invisible orthodontics after the permanent teeth have erupted.