Early Orthodontic Treatment: Is the Benefit Worth the Burden?

The timing of orthodontic treatment to achieve an optimal outcome is an issue of paramount importance to clinical orthodontist. In providing orthodontic care for pediatric patients, clinicians often questioned whether to begin treatment early i.e. during the primary or early-transitional dentition or wait until all or most of the permanent teeth are present. The early treatment eliminates noxious habits, re-orientates dental-maxillary development and compensates for the structural discrepancy between teeth and bone. It would be interesting for a clinician to know what measures could be used in corrective or interceptive treatment to stop an unwanted development at an early stage and to ensure normal growth thereafter. The purpose of this article is to make the clinicians familiar with various issues of early orthodontic treatment.