I see patients of all ages from age 7 to 99 years old. Approximately 75% of my patients are under 18 years old and growth plays a factor when diagnosing treatment timing for patients. Treatment timing for patients is individual and is controlled by the patients’ growth pattern. The average child has all their permanent teeth by age 12 and is ready to start orthodontic treatment. For my younger patients (age 7-10 years) that have a narrow palate, the palate is soft and pliable at this age and easily expanded orthopedically. Frequently, a narrow palate causes moderate to severe crowding or a crossbite. In a normal patient, the upper teeth fit over the lower teeth like a lid on a jar. In a