Why We Look at Jaw Growth Earlier Than You May Expect
Many parents associate orthodontic evaluation with the teenage years, but the jaws, face and airway are developing long before braces typically enter the conversation. At Elevate Airway, TMJ & Sleep, we believe evaluating children earlier can help identify growth and development concerns while they are still actively growing. Dr. Stamm explains why early evaluation matters and what parents should understand about their child’s development.
Key Takeaways
Much of a child’s jaw and facial growth occurs during the first decade of life.
Elevate recommends evaluating jaw, airway and facial development during early childhood rather than automatically waiting until traditional orthodontic age.
Early evaluation does not necessarily mean a child needs treatment. It helps identify whether growth and development are progressing appropriately.
When growth concerns are identified, earlier intervention may provide opportunities to guide development while a child is still actively growing.
Airway-focused evaluation considers more than tooth alignment, including jaw development, breathing, airway health and overall facial growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age should my child have an airway and jaw development evaluation?
At Elevate Airway, TMJ & Sleep, we recommend evaluating children during early childhood, often by around age four. This allows us to assess jaw development, facial growth, breathing and airway health while a child still has significant growth ahead.
Why evaluate my child before they are ready for braces?
An early evaluation is about more than straightening teeth. It can help identify concerns involving jaw growth, facial development, breathing and airway health before a child reaches the age when traditional orthodontic treatment commonly begins.
Does an early airway evaluation mean my child will need treatment?
No. An evaluation does not automatically mean treatment is necessary. The goal is to understand how your child is growing and determine whether development appears to be progressing appropriately or whether closer monitoring or intervention may be beneficial.
Can children grow out of jaw development problems?
Some growth concerns may persist or become more pronounced as a child develops rather than simply resolving with age. Evaluating your child while they are actively growing can help determine whether a particular concern should be monitored or addressed.
What does an airway-focused growth evaluation look at?
An airway-focused evaluation can consider jaw and facial development, breathing patterns, tongue space and function, airway health, sleep symptoms and dental development. The goal is to look at how these factors work together rather than focusing only on whether the teeth are straight.
Why can early intervention be helpful for jaw development?
When appropriate, early intervention may provide an opportunity to guide growth while a child’s jaws and face are still actively developing. The appropriate timing and treatment depend on the individual child and what is found during the evaluation.
Transcript
Why Early Evaluation Matters for Jaw and Airway Development
Early intervention can have an important impact on a child’s growth, development and long-term health.
Parents may not realize how much jaw and facial growth happens during the first decade of a child’s life. That is why we like to evaluate children much earlier than many parents might expect, ideally by around age four.
The sooner we identify growth and development that may not be progressing as expected, the more opportunity we have to understand what is happening and determine whether intervention may be beneficial.
This is different from a traditional approach of waiting until a child is older to evaluate orthodontic concerns. When we identify an issue with jaw, facial or airway development, we want to understand it while the child is still actively growing.
An early evaluation does not mean every child needs treatment. It allows us to look at how the jaws, face and airway are developing and determine whether growth appears to be progressing appropriately.
When intervention is appropriate, addressing concerns earlier may allow us to work with a child’s natural growth and development rather than waiting until growth is further along.
That is why we encourage parents to have their child evaluated at an early age.