Early orthodontic evaluation by age 7 allows the orthodontist to suggest the ideal time to start treatment to achieve the best possible results. An orthodontist will determine the appropriate timing of orthodontic treatment based on the type of bite problem and your child’s individual needs. Some problems of jaw alignment benefit greatly from early intervention to help the jaws grow to fit correctly. In some cases orthodontic treatment may be delayed to allow for eruption of all the permanent teeth.