Early treatment sometimes referred to as interceptive treatment or phase I treatment is done on younger children before all permanent teeth have erupted in the mouth usually between the ages of six and ten.

Most orthodontic treatment is performed during  the adolescent years when all of the permanent teeth have erupted and the child is still growing.

Orthodontic treatment is no longer for teenagers only. Many esthetic options such as clear aligners and clear braces exist to correct crowding, an overbite, underbite or crossbite in adults.