Jaw & Facial Development
The face does not simply become a larger version of a child’s face as they grow.
The upper jaw, lower jaw, palate, dental arches, tongue and facial muscles develop and adapt throughout childhood and adolescence.
This is why timing can be important in orthodontics.
An early evaluation does not necessarily mean that treatment is needed immediately. Sometimes the best approach is simply to observe growth.
In other cases, orthodontic treatment may be appropriate while a child is growing to address crowding, crossbite, narrow dental arches, jaw discrepancies or other developmental concerns.
Dr. DeLurgio evaluates each patient individually and considers how the teeth and jaws are developing within the context of the patient’s overall facial growth.
Creating Appropriate Oral Space
In some patients, the upper dental arch may be narrow or constricted.
When clinically appropriate, orthodontic expansion can be used to develop the dental arch and create additional space for the teeth and surrounding oral structures.
Expansion is not appropriate for everyone, and it should not be considered a universal treatment for breathing or sleep problems.
Dr. DeLurgio determines whether expansion or another orthodontic approach is appropriate based on the patient’s individual anatomy, growth pattern and orthodontic diagnosis.
Breathing & Orthodontics
Could Mouth Breathing Be a Sign That Your Child Needs an Evaluation?
Parents sometimes notice that their child:
- Frequently breathes through the mouth
- Sleeps with the mouth open
- Has difficulty breathing through the nose
- Snores
- Sleeps restlessly
- Has a dry mouth in the morning
- Has significant dental crowding
- Has a narrow or high-arched palate
- Has difficulty maintaining comfortable lip closure
These signs do not automatically indicate an airway disorder.
However, they may be reasons to discuss your child’s breathing and development with a qualified healthcare professional.
At DeLurgio Orthodontics, Dr. DeLurgio can evaluate the orthodontic and dentofacial aspects of your child’s development and recommend additional evaluation when appropriate.
Sleep & Breathing
Sleep-related breathing concerns can be especially important in children because sleep plays an essential role in healthy development.
Frequent or loud snoring, pauses in breathing, gasping, restless sleep, unusual sleeping positions, persistent mouth breathing and daytime behavioral or concentration concerns can be signs that deserve further evaluation.
Importantly, snoring does not automatically mean that someone has sleep apnea.
When sleep-disordered breathing is suspected, diagnosis belongs with the appropriate medical professionals. Depending on the circumstances, this may involve a pediatrician, primary care physician, ENT, sleep physician or other qualified provider.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends screening children for sleep-related breathing disorders and facilitating medical referral when obstructive sleep apnea is suspected. {“fallbackMarkdown”:”(AAPD)”,”reference”:{“matched_text”:””,”prefix”:null,”start_idx”:8596,”end_idx”:8615,”safe_urls”:[“https://www.aapd.org/research/oral-health-policies–recommendations/obstructive-sleep-apnea/”,”https://www.aapd.org/research/oral-health-policies–recommendations/obstructive-sleep-apnea/?utm_source=chatgpt.com”],”refs”:[],”alt”:”(AAPD)”,”prompt_text”:null,”type”:”grouped_webpages”,”error”:null,”status”:”done”,”items”:[{“title”:”Overview”,”url”:”https://www.aapd.org/research/oral-health-policies–recommendations/obstructive-sleep-apnea/?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”attribution”:”AAPD”,”pub_date”:null,”snippet”:””,”attribution_segments”:null,”supporting_websites”:[],”refs”:[{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”search”,”ref_index”:0}],”hue”:null,”attributions”:null}],”style”:null,”fallback_items”:null},”showLoginRequiredCard”:false}
Where Does an Orthodontist Fit Into Airway Health?
Orthodontists can play an important role in recognizing orthodontic and facial-development factors that may be relevant to breathing.
The American Association of Orthodontists’ 2026 white paper recognizes that orthodontists can screen for sleep-disordered breathing and collaborate with medical professionals. It also emphasizes the limitations of current evidence and does not support presenting orthodontic treatment as a way to prevent sleep-disordered breathing. {“fallbackMarkdown”:”(PubMed)”,”reference”:{“matched_text”:””,”prefix”:null,”start_idx”:9140,”end_idx”:9173,”safe_urls”:[“https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41770191/”,”https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41770191/?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889540626000351″,”https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889540626000351?utm_source=chatgpt.com”],”refs”:[],”alt”:”(PubMed)”,”prompt_text”:null,”type”:”grouped_webpages”,”error”:null,”status”:”done”,”items”:[{“title”:”Sleep-disordered breathing and orthodontics: An American Association of Orthodontists white paper update – PubMed”,”url”:”https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41770191/?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”attribution”:”PubMed”,”pub_date”:1772409600,”snippet”:””,”attribution_segments”:null,”supporting_websites”:[{“title”:”Sleep-disordered breathing and orthodontics: An American Association of Orthodontists white paper update – ScienceDirect”,”url”:”https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889540626000351?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”pub_date”:null,”snippet”:””,”attribution”:”ScienceDirect”}],”refs”:[{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”search”,”ref_index”:7},{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”search”,”ref_index”:13}],”hue”:null,”attributions”:null}],”style”:null,”fallback_items”:null},”showLoginRequiredCard”:false}
This distinction is important.
At DeLurgio Orthodontics, we don’t promise that orthodontics will “cure” a breathing or sleep disorder.
Instead, we evaluate the patient in front of us, identify orthodontic and developmental factors that may be relevant, and coordinate with other healthcare professionals when additional evaluation is warranted.
A Comprehensive Approach from Dr. Andrea DeLurgio
Dr. Andrea DeLurgio believes that excellent orthodontic care begins with excellent diagnosis.
Rather than looking only at where the teeth are today, she considers how the teeth, jaws and facial structures fit together—and how they are developing over time.
For children and adolescents, this means paying particular attention to growth and development.
For adults, it means considering the existing jaw relationships, dental arches, bite and functional concerns when developing an orthodontic treatment plan.
Whether your goal is a healthier bite, improved dental alignment, a more balanced smile or a better understanding of your child’s facial development, Dr. DeLurgio takes a thoughtful and individualized approach.
Could an Airway-Focused Orthodontic Evaluation Be Appropriate?
Consider an evaluation if you have questions about:
- Jaw or facial development
- Narrow dental arches
- A narrow or high palate
- Significant dental crowding
- Mouth breathing
- Difficulty breathing comfortably through the nose
- Snoring or restless sleep
- Sleep-related breathing concerns
- Tongue posture or oral function
- An unusual bite or jaw relationship
- Your child’s timing for orthodontic treatment
An evaluation does not mean that treatment is automatically necessary.
It simply provides an opportunity to understand how the teeth, jaws and facial structures are developing and whether orthodontics has a role to play.
Looking Beyond the Smile
At DeLurgio Orthodontics, we believe a great orthodontic result is about more than straight teeth.
It is about understanding the individual patient, respecting normal growth and development, and creating a treatment plan that supports a healthy, functional and confident smile.
If you have questions about your child’s breathing, facial development or orthodontic needs, schedule a consultation with Dr. Andrea DeLurgio.
