Palate Expansion & Growth Guidance
Supporting developing jaw relationships, appropriate space and function during growth.
Learn About Palatal ExpansionChildren’s Airway, Growth & Development
Healthy growth starts early.
The way a child breathes, sleeps, uses their tongue and develops their jaws can influence more than their smile. We look beyond teeth to understand the whole picture and help families determine whether early treatment—or simply monitoring—is appropriate.
Signs Parents Notice
Sometimes the first signs show up outside the smile.
None of these are a diagnosis on their own. They are simply the things parents tend to notice first, and reasonable reasons to consider an evaluation.
Why Growth Matters
Growing jaws give us an opportunity.
Childhood is a period of active facial and jaw development. That means the jaws, the airway, oral function and the developing teeth can be looked at together — rather than considering alignment alone.
Evaluating earlier does not automatically mean treating earlier. For many children the most appropriate next step is observation: checking in as growth continues and revisiting the question at a more useful moment.
We Look Beyond Teeth
A child’s smile is only part of the picture.
- Airway
- How comfortably your child breathes through the nose and during sleep.
- Growth
- How the upper and lower jaws and face are developing.
- Sleep
- Snoring, restless sleep, mouth breathing and other nighttime concerns.
- Function
- Tongue posture, swallowing, chewing, lip seal and oral habits.
- Teeth & Bite
- Space for developing teeth, crowding, bite relationships and alignment.
TMJ function, posture and other contributing factors may also be considered when appropriate.
Individualized Care
Treatment may look different for every child.
What we recommend — if anything — depends on the individual findings, your child’s age and stage of development, and what they actually need.
Functional Orthodontics
Guiding developing tooth position and bite while considering growth and function.
Explore Functional OrthodonticsMyofunctional Therapy
Supporting healthy tongue posture, lip seal, nasal breathing and swallowing patterns.
Learn About Myofunctional TherapyTongue-Tie Evaluation & Release
Evaluating restricted oral tissues and treating them when appropriate as part of a coordinated functional plan.
Learn About Tongue-TiesLaser Therapy
Adjunctive laser treatments may be used to support oral function, airway-related concerns, comfort and treatment recovery when appropriate.
Gentle Cranial Therapy
Light hands-on techniques may be used as an adjunct to address areas of tension and support comfort and function during care.
Growing With Your Child
Care designed around development—not just age.
Foundation
Growth + space + function
Phase 1
Continued development + function + developing alignment
Phase 2
Final alignment when appropriate
Not every child needs every phase. Timing and sequencing are individualized, and some children simply need to be watched as they grow.
Explore Our Treatment Approach →Collaborative Care
Growing children sometimes need a team.
When appropriate, we collaborate with other healthcare professionals involved in your child’s care so treatment stays connected — physicians, ENTs, orthodontists, myofunctional therapists, speech and feeding professionals and other healthcare providers.
Our Collaborative Approach →Common Questions
Questions parents often ask.
When should my child have an airway and growth evaluation?
We can evaluate growth and development at almost any age when parents have concerns. An early evaluation can be especially helpful if you notice mouth breathing, snoring, crowded teeth, a narrow palate, feeding or tongue concerns, or unusual jaw growth. The goal is not necessarily to start treatment—it is to understand how your child is developing and determine whether we should treat, monitor, or simply reassess as they grow. Generally we are waiting until age 4, based on ability to tolerate treatment, to start with fixed palatal expanders.
Does my child need all of their permanent teeth before an orthodontic evaluation?
No! Dr. Brittany likes to treat a problem when she sees a problem, so if the teeth are coming in crooked at age 6, let’s not wait but start creating room now.
Should my child be evaluated if they snore or mouth breathe?
Yes, persistent snoring or mouth breathing is worth discussing with your child's healthcare providers. At Alpine Airway Wellness, we can evaluate dental, jaw, palate, and oral-function factors that may be contributing and collaborate with your child's pediatrician, ENT, sleep physician, or other providers when appropriate.
What if my child's teeth look straight but their palate is narrow?
Straight teeth don't always tell the whole story. We also look at the width and development of the jaws, available tongue space, bite, breathing, and oral function. A child can have relatively straight teeth while still having growth or functional concerns worth evaluating.
Can you work with our child's current dentist, orthodontist or other healthcare providers?
Absolutely. We believe children often benefit from collaborative care. When appropriate, we're happy to coordinate with your child's dentist, orthodontist, pediatrician, ENT, myofunctional therapist, speech or feeding therapist, or other healthcare providers so everyone understands the goals of care.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Brittany Johansen. This page is general education, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan.
We see patients at our Alpine, Utah office, including families from Highland, Cedar Hills, American Fork, Lehi and across Utah County.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Start with a conversation.
If you’re noticing concerns with your child’s breathing, sleep, growth, teeth or oral function, a consultation can help you better understand what you’re seeing and whether an evaluation or treatment may be appropriate.