My child is in elementary school. When should orthodontic treatment start?

The right time to start orthodontic treatment depends on the type of malocclusion. 1) For problems related to jaw growth — such as an underbite, a receding chin, or severely protruding upper front teeth — it is advantageous to start growth-modification treatment during the growth period at ages 6 to 9. 2) For simple tooth alignment problems, the ideal time is around ages 12 to 13, when all the permanent teeth have come in. Jaw problems can become more complicated to treat if the right window is missed, so we recommend having an orthodontic checkup around age 7 to assess your child's tooth and jaw development.