What are the benefits of early treatment?

According to the American Association of Orthodontists those patients who have clear indications for early orthodontic intervention, early treatment presents an opportunity to:

• Guide the growth of the jaw
• Regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches (the arch-shaped jaw bone that supports the teeth
• Guide incoming permanent teeth into desirable positions
• Lower risk of trauma (accidents) to protruded upper incisors (front teeth)
• Correct harmful oral habits such as thumb- or finger-sucking
• Reduce or eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems
• Improve personal appearance and self-esteem
• Potentially simplify and/or shorten  treatment time for later corrective orthodontics
• Reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth (teeth that should have come in, but have not)
• Preserve or gain space for permanent teeth that are coming in.

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