Jaw Growth Guidance Bozeman
How Your Child Breathes Matters
Does your child breathe through their mouth even when they aren’t physically exhausted? This practice can negatively affect how their face and jaw grow and develop over time. Without timely treatment, the problem can worsen, leading to sleep-disordered breathing, jaw misalignment, and the need for long-term orthodontic care. However, with jaw growth guidance, Dr. Paul can use personalized solutions to improve your child’s oral posture and help them transition from mouth to nasal breathing. Contact our office if you’re ready to schedule an appointment for your child.
Why Choose Bridger Orthodontics for Jaw Growth Guidance?
- Orthodontist Offers Varied Treatment Options w/ Whole-Health Focus
- Conservative, Gentle Devices with Comfort-Focused Approach
- Talented Team Ready to Provide Patient-First, Compassionate Care
Common Signs & Symptoms of Improper Jaw Development
Some signs of improper jaw development may be more obvious than others, which is why it’s important to understand what to look for if you think your child might need professional care.
If you notice any of the following, do not hesitate to call our office:
- Your child is struggling to chew or swallow during meals (poor jaw alignment/muscle strength)
- They have crowded or misaligned teeth (lack of jaw space)
- They breathe through their mouth or snore (restricted nasal passages)
- They struggle with a speech impediment (poor jaw development)
- Their face appears asymmetrical (jaw growth issues)
- They exhibit irritable behavior or poor academic performance (sleep- and breathing-related issues)
- They suffer from regular ear infections (poor jaw development)
- They have poor posture (jaw or other oral imbalances)
Our Goals for Jaw Growth Guidance
When addressing your child or teenager’s jaw growth, we must establish specific goals to ensure optimal, long-term results:
- We want to improve their oxygen intake, which means switching from mouth to nasal breathing so that better overall health is achieved.
- We want to improve their sleep quality by curbing snoring and symptoms of sleep apnea so that they can breathe freely through their nose and achieve better rest.
- We want to realign their jaw so that their oral structures (lips and tongue) sit in their appropriate place. This also reduces the possibility of overcrowded teeth and further misalignment.
- We want to improve their posture, so they enjoy better facial symmetry and a more balanced, confident appearance.
- We want to boost their oral health by curbing mouth breathing, which reduces their risk of dental decay and gum disease.
- We want to help them speak clearly by correcting their tongue position and increasing their oral muscles.
How We Guide Jaw Growth
Improved jaw growth is essential to your child’s long-term oral and facial development. By closely evaluating them and identifying their needs, they can begin to eat, sleep, and breathe better, as well as remain more focused both inside and outside the classroom.
Dr. Paul and our team at Bridger Orthodontics may recommend one or more of the following techniques to direct your child’s jaw growth:
- Early-age, conservative orthodontic treatment that addresses growth concerns in their initial stages so that the chances of more invasive, complex care in the future are reduced.
- Expansion and mandibular advancement appliances encourage better jaw growth and development.
- Myofunctional therapy helps improve nasal breathing and strengthen oral and facial muscles.
- Myobrace is designed to align crooked or overcrowded teeth and jaws and address poor oral habits.