The Science: Airway Influences on Growth
Airway Disorder Screening
In 2017, the American Dental Association (ADA) published recommendations that dentists screen for airway disorders. 1 This recommendation came about to help bridge the gap in untreated chronic airway disease.
Who better to assess possible airway problems than a doctor trained in looking at the oral cavity – one of the two gateways to breathing? With her advanced training with children, Dr. Ashley Lee is just that person.
Breathing Shapes Growing Smiles
Jaw growth and posture can reveal airway and breathing issues
The brain needs a certain amount of oxygen to thrive. When getting less than what is needed, the brain signals changes in the body to compensate. In growing children, this results in changes in jaw formation, posture, and possibly even behavior.
The changes can be instrumental in identifying airway issues early. Because the airway runs behind the upper and lower jaws on its way from the nose and mouth to the lungs, Underdevelopment of the jaws is now recognized as one of the primary reasons for airway issues such as sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) 2, 3.
For Proper Jaw and Airway
The Following Should Occur:
- Quiet breathing through the nose, both day and night
- Lips gently together with relaxed facial muscles
- Tongue resting flat against the roof of the mouth (except when talking or eating)
- Swallowing without excessive facial or head movement
In young children (birth to age 7), maintaining an open airway is a top priority for the brain. If a child cannot do these things, their body will develop compensations—such as changes in posture while standing, sitting, or sleeping—that can negatively impact growth. These consequences often follow the child into adulthood.
Interceptive Orthodontics – Game Changer
A growing amount of research shows that changing the trajectory of jaw growth can positively influence all the symptoms listed above. This can be done by what is called interceptive (also known as phase 1) orthodontics.
In the past, phase 1 orthodontics was reserved for kids showing up with a dental crossbite (when the lower teeth are positioned outside of the upper teeth).
3D technology now allows our team at My Rivertown Dentist to assess the jaws in more than one dimension. We can evaluate skeletal crossbites (not just dental), airway volume, and jaw joints. Using this technology, your Madison dentist can better plan the interception of current problems and the prevention of possible future ones.
Signs of Dysfunctional Growth or Development
- Open Mouth Posture
- Mouth Breathing
- Chapped Lips
- Lip Licking
- Nail Biting
- Swollen Gums
- Visible Gums Above the Upper Front Teeth When Fully Smiling
- Asymmetric
- Unbalanced Facial Growth Patterns
- Long Faces and Recessive Chins
- Underbites with Small Upper Jaws and Prominent Chins
- Dark Circles and/or Bags Under the Eyes
- Behavioral Challenges
- ADHD-type Behavior
- Executive Function Concerns
- School Performance Getting Worse
- Foggy Thinking
- Poor Memory
- Noisy Eating and Drooling
- Crowded
- Crooked Teeth
- Feeding Issues
- Breastfeeding Difficulties
- Speech Issues
- Lack of Spaces Between Baby Teeth or Crowding of New Teeth
- Teeth That Don’t Touch the Opposing Teeth When Biting
- Frequent Stuffy Noses
- Colds
- Allergies or Asthma
- Swollen Tonsils and Adenoids
- Ear Infections/Eustachian Tube Reflux
- Affected Hearing or Ringing in the Ear
- Tongue Tie and/or Lip Tie
- Tongue Thrusting
- Facial Muscles Moving When Swallowing
- Pacifiers
- Sippy Cups
- Thumb/Finger Sucking
- Snoring or Loud Breathing During Sleep
- Forward Head Posture and Poor General Posture
- Headaches
- Pain in the Jaw or Neck
- Restless/Poor Sleep
- Nightmares
- Bedwetting
- Daytime Sleepiness or Cranky Behavior in Young Children
- Scalloped Pattern Visible on the Sides of the Tongue
Advantages of Airway Orthodontics
Unlocking better lifelong health begins with the right approach to growth and development
Orthodontic Options for Patients in Madison
Screenings start right away! Along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, we recommend that children have their first visit to the dentist by age 1. The team at My Rivertown Dentist has advanced training that allows us to more effectively screen for current and potential issues related to jaw growth and airway development. Catching early habits and monitoring growth patterns gives us the chance to positively impact growth and development.
Magical age of 7! The American Association of Orthodontists recommends your child’s first orthodontic screening take place no later than age 7. The upper jaw is mainly done with passive growth after this age. If we are able to identify the need for intervention early, treatment options are typically less complex.
Treatment options and decisions for our young patients are based on symptoms, patient maturity, and parent preferences.
