Children sometimes exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop. If children over four years of age have these jaw discrepancies, they are usually candidates for early orthodontic/orthopedic evaluation and treatment. Because children are growing rapidly, they can benefit enormously from early (interceptive) phase of orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic appliances can be used to correct the jaw shape and direct growth towards an ideal relationship between the upper and lower jaws.

Interceptive treatment can also decrease the time necessary for the second phase of treatment. Leaving malocclusion untreated until all the permanent teeth erupt could result in a jaw discrepancy too severe to allow achievement of an ideal result with braces alone.