Early diagnosis and treatment can help guide erupting teeth into a more favorable position and perhaps prevent extractions of permanent teeth at a later date. Also, early treatment may shorten treatment time and make treatment easier and in many cases less expensive. Also, early treatment may shorten treatment time and make treatment easier and in some cases, less expensive. Treatment during this period allows the orthodontist to favorably influence the facial profile in a growing child. Once growth of the facial bones is complete, correction of skeletal discrepancies usually requires surgery.
Every patient is different, so there are no set treatment times.
Some conditions such as minor twisting and rotation of teeth can be corrected easily. Others, such as cases in which large gaps are closed or overbites are eliminated can take slightly longer. Often, overall treatment times for younger patients can be shortened by using special appliances other than braces while waiting for eruption of the permanent teeth. There's usually an adjustment period when braces first go on, but any discomfort normally passes very quickly. Today's braces are definitely designed with patient comfort in mind.