American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age 6.

Some orthodontic problems need to be recognized and treated early because waiting until later could have adverse effects on the development of a child’s facial symmetry, the heath of the jaw joints and can even make it difficult to breathe through the nose.

The earlier a child is presented for an orthodontic consultation, the earlier potential growth and adverse developmental problems can be identified and addressed. Many of these problems are easier on a child to correct at an early age and some of these same problems cannot be treated effectively or with the same degree of stability if treatment is delayed until all of the permanent teeth have come in.