title: Orthodontic treatment in the early mixed dentition: is this the optimum time to start care?
abstract: The age at which children should start orthodontic treatment has been debated amongst orthodontists for many decades. Orthodontists can agree on what is a quality orthodontic result, but disagree as to how and when to best obtain this result Some orthodontists contend that starting treatment in the primary dentition is the most effective means of orthodontic care. Other orthodontists would prefer to begin in the early or late mixed dentition. Still others would rather postpone treatment until the permanent dentition at approximately age 12. This article will evaluate the pros and cons of initiating treatment at different ages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of the Pacific Arthur A Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dugoni
authors.forename: Maryse M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Aubert
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000628:therapy; D024343:Open Bite / Q000628:therapy; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods*