We suggest scheduling your child’s first orthodontic appointment around age seven, as recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists. At that early age we normally just observe your child during growth and transition of the teeth, and we make sure that he or she is developing normally. There are a few indications which may need treatment, underbites, cross bites, crowded or severely misplaced teeth, difficulty chewing or biting, speech problems, or mouth breathing. Early intervention may avoid the need for extractions of permanent teeth in the future, can guide jaw growth, and create more space for crowded teeth.