At Growing Faces Pediatric Dentistry, airway health is a core part of how we care for children. Proper breathing is essential for healthy growth, quality sleep, learning, and overall development. Airway dentistry focuses on identifying and treating issues that affect how your child breathes, especially during sleep.
Many childhood concerns such as mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, bedwetting, and even attention challenges can be linked to airway development. Our approach looks beyond teeth to evaluate how the jaws, tongue, and facial structures support healthy breathing.
Airway dentistry is a preventive and growth focused approach that evaluates how the mouth, jaws, and facial structures influence breathing. In children, the upper and lower jaws are still developing. If they grow too narrow or too small, the airway can become restricted.
A restricted airway may lead to:
Early intervention can guide proper jaw growth and support healthier breathing patterns before more serious complications develop.
Children are meant to breathe through their noses. Nasal breathing supports:
When a child consistently breathes through their mouth, it can change how their face grows. A narrow palate, crowded teeth, and a small lower jaw are often signs of underlying airway concerns.
Addressing these issues early can help reduce the need for more invasive treatments later in life.
Parents are often the first to notice something is not quite right. You may want to schedule an airway evaluation if your child:
Even subtle symptoms can signal that the airway is not functioning optimally.
At Growing Faces Pediatric Dentistry, we take a comprehensive approach to airway assessments.
Your child’s evaluation may include:
We look at how the teeth fit together, but more importantly, how the jaws are developing and whether they provide enough space for healthy breathing.
Treatment depends on your child’s age and specific needs. Early growth guidance is often the most effective and least invasive approach.
A narrow upper jaw can restrict the nasal airway. A palatal expander gently widens the upper jaw, creating more room for proper breathing and improving dental alignment.
Benefits may include:
In certain cases, appliances can support forward jaw growth, helping create additional airway space and promoting balanced facial development.
Improper tongue posture and swallowing patterns can contribute to airway issues. Myofunctional therapy focuses on strengthening the muscles of the tongue and face to encourage proper breathing and oral habits.
If enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or other medical concerns are present, we may coordinate with pediatricians, ENTs, or sleep specialists to ensure comprehensive care.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Airway assessments often begin even earlier.
The younger the child, the more we can guide natural growth. Early treatment can:
Waiting until all permanent teeth have erupted may mean missing a critical window for growth modification.
Airway-centered treatment is about more than straight teeth. It is about setting the foundation for lifelong health.
Proper breathing supports:
Children who breathe and sleep well are better able to thrive in every area of life.
We focus on growth, prevention, and early guidance. Our team understands how oral development affects the whole child. We take time to listen to parents, evaluate symptoms carefully, and design individualized treatment plans that support both dental health and airway health.
We believe in proactive care, not reactive treatment. By identifying airway concerns early, we help children grow into healthier teens and adults.
If your child snores, mouth breathes, or struggles with restless sleep, an airway evaluation may be the next step.
Contact Growing Faces Pediatric Dentistry to schedule a consultation. Together, we can support healthy breathing, balanced facial growth, and a brighter future for your child.