Dentofacial Development and Your Child’s Health.  The overall health and wellness of a growing child is every parent’s concern. The growth and development of your child’s face and mouth is directly linked to his or her systemic health and wellness during formative years into adulthood. The mouth takes in nourishment and the breath of life. As such the skeletal and muscular structures that support the mouth and the airway should be evaluated from an early age on a regular basis.  Read More

Your Child and TMJ Symptoms.  A child’s poor myofunctional habits will lead to narrow jaws and a resultant bad bite. The lower jaw is forced back by the bad bite leading to a musculoskeletal dysfunction of the head and neck. This dysfunction results in symptoms such as headaches, ear pain in the absence of infection, tooth grinding, tinnitus and jaw noises.   Read More

Your Child Could Suffer From Sleep Disordered Breathing.  Does your child snore? Does your child show other signs of disturbed sleep: chronic mouth breathing, clenching and grinding teeth, long pauses in breathing, tossing and turning in bed, bed wetting and night sweats (because of an increased effort to breathe). All these and especially the snoring are possible signs of sleep apnea which is more common among children than you would think. It is estimated that 10% of children snore regularly and up to 4% of children suffer from sleep apnea, many of them being between 2 and 8 yrs old. Read More

Myofunctional Orthodontics. Over the past 20 years orthodontic appliances have been developed that will improve the dental and facial development of children from 5-15 years of age using myofunctional techniques instead of traditional orthodontics. This technique not only straightens teeth (often without braces) but also treats the causes of crooked teeth and incorrect jaw development. 75% of growing children have malocclusion and incorrect facial development. Soft tissue dysfunction is the major cause. Read More

Diagnosis and Treatment.  Dr. Lawson has acquired training in the growing field of Dentofacial Orthopedics in children. This deals with diagnosing, treatment planning and prescribing treatment that will stabilize the jaw joints, open the airway, balance the face and balance the smile into a beautiful result. Soft tissue dysfunction (mouth breathing, thumb sucking and incorrect swallowing) restricts forward development of the jaws and face, leaving insufficient space for the tongue and the teeth. Correcting these poor habits improves general health and allows children to develop properly and reach their full genetic potential.   Read More