The Standard of Care is that all children have their 1st Orthodontic Examination no later than their 7th birthday. This examination is free and allows the Orthodontist to determine the presence or (hopefully) absence of developmental anomalies and/or malocclusion (bad bite). The Orthodontist can then determine the advisability of early treatment, observation until later, or no treatment at all. For example, children with a narrow upper jaw would benefit from early jaw development with a Haas Expansion Appliance to widen the upper jaw to match the lower, improve the airway, eliminate lower jaw shift, improve occlusion (reducing time and cost of braces), and reducing the risk of impaction of the permanent canines.
Retainers do one thing, and one thing only.
They hold your teeth in their new positions to help achieve stability.
They are worn 24/7 to start, then, depending on your compliance, I will be able to shorten the number of hours per day that are required.
They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.
The 3 most common types, however, are the plastic tray-type retainer (Essex), the wire and plastic retainer (Hawley), and a wire bonded to the insides of your teeth (Bonded 3-3).