Successful treatment in growing patients depends of the knowledge of ancient principles like embryology, physiology, growth and development. Orthodontists and paediatric dentists have the responsibility to recognize, diagnose, and manage or refer developing malocclusions as they influence facial proportions and the impact of the dentition on facial appearance and oral functions. Early diagnosis and successful treatment is essential in order to restore a state of harmony between the various skeletal and muscular components. Many malocclusions tend to worsen rather than to self-correct with age, therefore it has been suggested interceptive orthodontics to correct them or to simplify later treatment. Several developing maloccusions could be fully corrected with simple strategies and improved in many of cases.

Early treatment seeking to modify the growth of the jaws in all three planes of space and contrast the dysfunctional component with a combina­tion of intra or extraoral forces should be made by considering the differences in the growth curve between males and females, and more specifically the tr

end of the growth curve of each individual to obtain the expected results. 

Cinzia Maspero studied at the University of Milan, Milan Italy. Specialty in Orthodontics.Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy,

Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.