This will correct the skeletal problem as the child grows. In order for this treatment to work, however, the patient has to be growing. The thought was that treatment at that young age would enable large skeletal discrepancies to be overcome in a short period of time. However, if treatment is done at this early stage, relapse is likely because growth will continue in the original disproportionate pattern. In general, growth modification is best done in the preadolescent years.
Some people advocate waiting until all the permanent teeth erupt to start orthodontic treatment.
This rationale is based on the fact that a second phase of treatment is usually necessary, even if growth modification is done in the preadolescent years. However, waiting until the eruption of all permanent teeth may necessitate extraction and possible surgery because usually there is just not enough growth remaining to treat the problem with growth modification. Typically, with growth modification procedures, two phases are necessary. In actuality, a child may be in braces for less overall time even with two phases, and the results are usually more stable. The first stage should begin one to three years before the peak of the adolescent growth spurt.