Does your child suck a thumb or a finger? Is your child a mouth breather? Does your child suffer from sleep apnea and/or display symptoms of attention deficit or hyperactivity? Orthopedic dentistry can drastically improve your child’s health.

Through functional jaw orthopedic dentistry, we focus on developing a stable bite, healthy jaw joints, an aesthetic profile, and a full, wide, beautiful smile in our young clients.  We address restricted arches, other palate and jaw malformations, crossbite, open bite, crowded and or overlapping teeth, and comprised airways.  Ideally, treatment begins between the ages of 3-8 years and the growth can be guided to optimal results over varying periods of time.

The orthopedic appliance, regardless of type and whether fixed or removable, is usually fabricated of wires and a plastic that your child can personalize by selecting bright colors and patterns! The appliance exerts gentle, imperceptible pressure on the anatomy to be altered, encouraging proper growth and development of bones and teeth, proper tongue placement, proper swallowing patterns, unrestricted nasal breathing, proper jaw-to-jaw alignment, and proper jaw-skull-neck-spine alignment.

Widening the arches helps to open airways! If necessary, we will also assist you in working with an ENT specialist to address inflamed tonsils. An increased intake of oxygen affects appearance, energy level, ability to focus, academic performance, sports performance, sleep apnea, symptoms of attention deficit, and symptoms of hyperactivity, and it reduces later risk of hypertension, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Opening restricted arches at an early age can also eliminate speech impediments, and it avoids the serial tooth extractions that may otherwise be recommended prior to commencing orthodontics (braces) in the teenage years.

While some children who benefit from functional jaw orthopedics will not need further treatment, others will still require braces in the teenage years. Why, then, consider orthopedic intervention? First, early intervention reduces the amount of time that your child will wear braces later. Second, and most importantly, a child with symmetrical jaw alignment and wide arches will avoid the narrow smile and possible TM dysfunction that can characterize premolar extraction orthodontics. Early intervention can make a difference!

Call and schedule a visual orthodontics appointment today for your child.  The appointment will take approximately 30 minutes.  You will find the doctor to be conscientious and through in his examination and you will have an opportunity to have your questions and concerns answered.