Some common signs & symptoms in children that might require orthodontic intervention include:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth (your child should typically start losing teeth around age five, and will have all permanent teeth around age 13)
• Mouth breathing
• Your child continues sucking his or her thumb after age five
• Your child has chewing or biting difficulty
• Speech impediments
• Your child displays clicking or shifting in the jaw
• Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight
• Protruding teeth (the top teeth and the bottom teeth extend away from each other)
• Teeth that don’t come together in a normal manner or even at all
• Shifting of the jaw when the child opens or closes the mouth (crossbites)

There are different types of options available in early orthodontic treatment, depending on the specific issue your child has. Some of the most common types of treatment include wearing a palatal expander, partial braces and a retainer. The treatments are focused on addressing jaw skeletal issues and alignment before or soon after permanent teeth emerge.