Many problems can be treated before all permanent teeth are in. If you suspect your child has a bite problem, or if his or her teeth, lips, or jaw don’t look normal for their age, make sure they get checked out.

Here are some signs to look for that could indicate they need an orthodontic evaluation:

• Crooked/crowded teeth
• difficulty chewing
• open-mouth breathing
• thumb or finger sucking

And here’s what early treatment can do:

• minimize severe bite problems
• improve facial appearance and self-esteem
• correct functional problems
• minimize the effects of abnormal growth patterns
• reduce protrusion so that front teeth are less susceptible to injury
• minimize or eliminate the need for extraction of permanent teeth
• reduce a serious mismatch in the growth of the upper and lower jaws
• eliminate adverse habits such as thumb/finger sucking
• make the treatment with braces easier and shorter