Jaw and airway development

Jaw and airway development

Jaw and Airway Development in our children 

If you haven’t watched our webinar with Dr. Shwetha Rodrigues, DDS that’s a great place to start.

Watch Here

After you watch, or if you are just looking for a quick start, please read the information she has provided to us below.


Whether you're just beginning to explore jaw development and airway health or already deep in the journey, the following information is designed to give you clarity, confidence, and a tangible next step.

Let's take the mystery out of mouth breathing, sleep concerns, and dental development—starting today. (Note: this information is not just for children with DS, as many children have these concerns, but there is a special note at the end about Down syndrome and jaw/airway issues.)

The Silent Crisis

Many children (both inside and outside the DS community) are showing signs of airway dysfunction:

  • Mouth breathing, snoring, or teeth grinding
  • Bedwetting, nightmares, restless sleep
  • Hyperactivity, poor focus, mood swings
  • Crooked teeth, speech delays, swollen tonsils


These aren’t just dental or behavioral concerns—they’re often symptoms of a restricted airway.

Why Is This Happening?

Modern habits like:

  • Early bottle feeding
  • Processed, soft diets
  • Allergies or blocked nasal passages

All lead to underdeveloped jaws and narrow airways, impacting growth, behavior, and health.

Why It Matters:

Airway dysfunction can lead to:

  • Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB)
  • Delayed growth and learning issues
  • Chronic fatigue, anxiety, and immune challenges
  • Long-term risks like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more


What Can We Do? — Integrative Care

The solution is not “wait and see”—it’s whole-child, integrative care that supports natural growth.

Treatment often includes:

  1. Oral Appliance Therapy – to develop jaws and expand the airway
  2. Myofunctional Therapy – to train the tongue and correct oral habits
  3. Nasal Breathing Support – to restore natural oxygen flow
  4. Lifestyle & Functional Support – working with ENTs, pediatricians, and bodyworkers
  5. Diagnostic Imaging – CBCT scans and airway evaluations to guide 


*Treatment Note for Children with Down Syndrome*

Unique challenges like:

  • Underdeveloped facial bones
  • Low muscle tone (hypotonia)
  • Narrow airways and frequent mouth breathing

Typically the base of the skull continues to grow and doesn’t fully fuse until around 18–20 years of age.


In children with Down syndrome, this part of the skull can fuse much earlier—sometimes as early as 6 or 7 years old.


One important bone in this area is called the sphenoid bone. It sits in the center of the skull and connects to many other bones, including the upper jaw. If the sphenoid bone stops growing too soon, it can prevent the upper jaw from growing forward properly. This often leads to smaller, underdeveloped jaws—which can affect how your child breathes, sleeps, and eats.


The sphenoid bone also surrounds an area called the sella turcica, which holds the pituitary gland. This gland helps control your child’s overall growth and hormone levels. So, early fusion in this area may not only affect the shape of your child’s face and mouth, but also their growth and development.


Understanding how early skull growth affects your child can help explain some of the challenges they face—and why early airway and jaw development care is so important.


Early airway-centered care can dramatically improve quality of life, sleep, and development.

Need Help Getting Started?

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Here’s how to move forward:


Find a Provider Near You
Share that you are looking for an airway centered dentist and some information about your child.


Need Personalized Guidance or Second Opinion?

You can book a one-on-one in-office consultation, which includes a CBCT scan for airway analysis.


Or for your convenience, we also offer online consultations for $150. 

Email drrodrigues@chesterdentalcareva.com


Let's review your child’s symptoms, growth, and sleep patterns—and help build a clear plan forward.

Final Thought

Most airway issues are acquired—not inherited.
That means healing and prevention are possible. By addressing the root cause, we help children breathe better, sleep deeper, and live brighter lives.

Let’s take the next step—one breath at a time.


Shwetha Rodrigues DDS