Airway Orthodontics

The Way We Breathe Influences Facial Growth and Development

How we breathe affects facial and skeletal growth and development. Soft tissue such as the tongue, lips, cheeks, tonsils and adenoids influence growth. Certain habits, compensations, and airway-related issues can contribute to adverse skeletal changes.

In this lecture, we will discuss how soft tissue and breathing patterns influence skeletal growth. We will examine similar malocclusions in children and adults, and discuss how the treatment plans differ, depending on the age and skeletal maturation of the patient. For adolescents, our treatment plans will focus on growth modification. For adults, we will explore both surgical and non-surgical options, including adult TAD expansion, as we derive the ideal comprehensive treatment plan.

Learning objectives:

1. Recognize how dysfunctional habits and patient compensations lead to common malocclusions
2. Understand interdisciplinary treatment strategies for early intervention
3. Learn surgical and non-surgical treatment strategies for adult treatment