The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children see an orthodontist by the age of seven to advise if orthodontic treatment is needed and the best time for that treatment to begin. At the age of seven, the first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in and crossbites, crowding, and other problems can be evaluated. When treatment is started early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaws and incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment and reduce the amount of time in braces overall.