Teeth, Crowding lower/upper arches?!

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Your son has what is called blocked out cuspids and it is due to underdeveloped arches (the upper and lower jaws did not grow to their proper widths). The best treatment is to have both arches expanded to their genetic potential with appliances, then braces to align the teeth properly. This will not adversely impact facial esthetics and all the teeth will line up as Mother Nature intended. If you take your son to a traditional orthodontist, he/she will almost always use outdated and archaic treatment like pulling 4 perfectly good teeth (aka bicuspid extractions) to make room for the crowded teeth. The drawbacks to this type of treatment are:
1) it will make the mouth smaller than normal
2) the upper back teeth will not line up properly with the lower back teeth
3) the nose and chin will be made more prominent and the area around the mouth will look sunken in (aka dished in profile)
4) has a high potential of causing TMJ problems, especially in females
5) will make the lower jaw bite too far back

A more modern orthodontic technique is called functional orthodontics and some traditional orthodontists are even embracing it because it places emphasis on facial beauty as well as straight teeth. Duration of treatment will depend on how much the jaws are constricted, obviously, but normal treatment just to treat under developed jaws is usually 9-12 months not including whatever else needs to be done to the teeth (the braces part). Braces cannot be used to expand because they are not strong enough; wearing an appliance will need to be done so that enough force can be applied to expand the jaws to where they would have been had they grown normally. Unfortunately, many traditional orthodontists are taught that expansion is not stable so many do not use that technique and prefer to have bicuspids extracted and cause TMJ in their patients. You have the right to refuse to have teeth pulled on your son and if your orthodontist refuses to treat any other way, then it would be in your son's best interest to find another orthodontist; not all traditional orthodontists treat the same way (but most do) and many have embraced the functional orthodontic concept so call around until you find someone who can do non extraction treatment.

functional orthodontist; treated TMJ since 1984