A child's first visit to an orthodontist can be at the age of 3. At that point we check for harmful habits, such as finger or dummy sucking, mouth breathing and incorrect tongue position when swallowing. We point these out to the parents and give them guidance on dealing with any problems. If such a habit is stopped at this early age, it will have no effect on jaw growth. In older patients who have started losing their baby teeth, we make sure that the permanent teeth come through without becoming misaligned. At 6–8, for example, a child may already be wearing an appliance. As I've already mentioned, braces can be fitted even before all the baby teeth have been replaced by permanent ones. So don't wait for your child to lose all their baby teeth before bringing them for a check-up. To parents, 16-year-olds are still children, but to orthodontists they're already adults. If any problem is found, it's important to correct it during the growth period.
This answer is for general information. Your own case needs an examination by an orthodontist.