Breaking News: The AAPD Recognizes Airway and Myofunctional Therapy as Critical for Pediatric Development
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has made a significant shift in how it approaches the developing dentition and occlusion, recognizing the critical role of airway health, oral habits, and myofunctional therapy in pediatric dental care. This marks a pivotal change in how we assess and treat children’s dental and facial development, moving beyond just straight teeth to a more comprehensive approach that prioritizes function, growth, and long-term health.
The New Emphasis on Airway and Development
For years, pediatric dentistry and orthodontics have focused primarily on correcting misaligned teeth and jaw structures. However, the latest AAPD guidelines now explicitly highlight the importance of airway assessment at all stages of dental development. The evaluation process now includes monitoring for airway-related issues such as mouth breathing, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and habits that impact skeletal growth and facial development
aapd.org.
This means dentists and orthodontists are now being encouraged to identify airway obstructions early—such as enlarged tonsils, adenoid hypertrophy, and habitual mouth breathing—before they contribute to improper jaw growth and malocclusion.
Myofunctional Therapy: A Game-Changer in Pediatric Dentistry
The AAPD’s latest recommendations also acknowledge oral habits like nonnutritive sucking, tongue thrusting, abnormal tongue posture, and bruxism as contributing factors to malocclusion and airway dysfunction aapd.org. Myofunctional therapy is emerging as a key intervention to address these habits by retraining oral and facial muscles to function correctly.
By incorporating myofunctional therapy into early treatment plans, clinicians can help children develop proper tongue posture, nasal breathing, and balanced muscle function, reducing the likelihood of developing severe malocclusions that require extensive orthodontic intervention later in life aapd.org.
Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy:
- Encourages nasal breathing to support proper oxygenation and facial growth
- Improves tongue posture to prevent open bites and improper swallowing patterns
- Reinforces proper suction and swallowing patterns to support digestive and oral health
- Develops a strong lip seal to enhance facial muscle balance and airway stability
- Reduces the severity of malocclusions by guiding natural jaw development
- Aids in the prevention and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing by promoting airway stability
Orthodontics and Airway: A New Standard of Care
The orthodontic industry is also being urged to take airway health into account when planning treatment. The AAPD now recommends that orthodontists assess skeletal discrepancies, palatal width, and jaw positioning with a focus on how these structures impact breathing and overall health pre-prod.aapd.org.
Orthodontic interventions are being tailored to not just straighten teeth, but to optimize jaw growth, improve tongue space, and enhance airway function. Expansion techniques such as palatal expanders are increasingly being used to create more room in the oral cavity, facilitating better airflow and reducing the risk of sleep-disordered breathing conditions. pre-prod.aapd.org
A Paradigm Shift in Pediatric Dentistry
This shift in focus represents a major step forward in pediatric dental care. By integrating airway assessments, myofunctional therapy, and orthodontic interventions that prioritize function over aesthetics, we can set children up for a lifetime of better breathing, healthier development, and reduced need for extensive orthodontic treatment in the future.
The recognition of these factors by the AAPD signals that pediatric dentistry is moving toward a more holistic and preventive approach, ensuring that early intervention addresses not just teeth, but the overall well-being of the child.
For more details, you can review the full AAPD guidelines here: AAPD’s Official Policies.
