Vector III Orthodontics

AIRWAY THE MOST IMPORTANT INTERCEPTIVE ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

How a child breaths affects the facial development. The airway affects whether the child breaths nasally (ideal) or though the mouth. Nasal breathing allows the face to develop to its fullest genetic capacity; and the oral muscle will have best chance to function properly.

There are many scientific papers available. Dr. Brandon Stack, orthodontist and lecturer in a paper on TMJ states the following:

A properly positioned and developed maxilla (upper jaw) is the key to normal function. Therefore, it is imperative that early assessment and/or treatment insure that the airway is unobstructed and that normal function exits, allowing proper growth and development to proceed during those years in which there is active growth and development.

Mandibular (lower jaw) retrusion is a relatively common occurrence. It is very frequent where airway insufficiency has been existent due to mouth breathing accompanying the airway problem. Early treatment addressing both the airway problem and ant skeletal discrepancy is both effective and simple with treatment becoming more difficult as the ages of active growth and development are passed.

Procedures which shorten the maxilla (upper jaw) [such as bicuspid extraction] should be examined very carefully as the maxilla is frequently normal or retruded and further retrusion will result in additional mandibular retrusion.