To investigate the effect of early functional correction on orthodontic treatment in children and its effect on facial shape change and dentition arrangement. Methods A total of 58 children who received orthodontic treatment in Department of Stomatology, Huanghua Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2022 to May 2023 were selected and divided into conventional group and experimental group by random number table method, with 29 children in each group. The conventional group was treated with non-muscle function training, and the experimental group was treated with early functional correction on the basis of the conventional group. The treatment effect, facial changes and dentition arrangement, and treatment effect satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Results The total effective rate of treatment in the experimental group was 96.55%, which was higher than 82.76% in the conventional group (P <0.05). After treatment, the concave distance, inclination angle, SNA angle, SNB angle, ANB angle, LI-NB angle, UI-NA angle, NP-FH angle and ANS-Me height of upper and middle teeth in the experimental group were better than those in the conventional group (P <0.05). The satisfaction rate of treatment effect in the experimental group was higher than that in the conventional group (P <0.05). Conclusion The effect of early functional correction during orthodontic treatment in children is good, which can effectively adjust the facial shape and dentition arrangement of children, and the patients and their families are more satisfied with the treatment