5 Ways Functional Orthodontics Supports Your Child’s Health
Orthodontics isn’t just about straight teeth—it’s about supporting your child’s health from the inside out. At Jackson Dental, we offer functional orthodontics: a modern, whole-health approach.
What Is Functional Orthodontics and How Is It Different from Traditional Orthodontics?
Traditional orthodontics focuses primarily on aligning the teeth, usually through brackets, wires, or clear aligners. While this can improve the appearance of a smile, it doesn’t always address the underlying reasons why teeth become crooked (or misaligned) in the first place.
Functional orthodontics takes a whole-health, preventive approach: looking beyond the teeth to consider how the jaw, facial structure, airway, and oral habits contribute to a child’s development. Rather than waiting until all the adult teeth have come in, functional orthodontics begins earlier, during critical growth stages, to help guide natural development.
At Jackson Dental, our focus is on early intervention, airway health, and long-term stability. We use non-invasive tools and myofunctional therapy to guide proper jaw growth, promote nasal breathing, and support long-term oral and overall wellness.
Here are the 5 surprising ways functional orthodontics supports your child’s health
1. Improves Airway Health and Breathing
One of the biggest differences with functional orthodontics is its focus on the airway. A narrow palate or underdeveloped jaw can restrict airflow, causing children to breathe through their mouths instead of their noses. This may lead to issues like snoring, tooth decay, or even sleep apnea.
Functional orthodontic tools like palatal expanders and Myobrace® help widen the airway, encouraging nasal breathing, which is essential for proper oxygen flow, brain development, and restful sleep.
Watch for indications of mouth breathing such as: drooling during sleep, frequent snoring, or waking up tired despite a full night’s rest.
2. Supports Restorative Sleep
Sleep is essential to a child’s physical development, learning, and brain health. Unfortunately, airway obstructions or poor oral posture can interfere with sleep quality.
We screen for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing using a checklist of physical signs and sleep behaviors based on the SSRR Sleep History Screening developed by Sharon Moore, a leading expert in airway and sleep health. With airway-focused orthodontics, many children experience improved sleep quality—and the improved mood, focus, and energy that come with it.
3. Encourages Proper Growth and Facial Development
Did you know that the position of your child’s jaw and tongue can actually shape their face? An underdeveloped jaw or improper tongue posture can lead to a narrow face, receding chin, asymmetry, or even a long facial profile.
Functional orthodontics guides the natural development of the face by encouraging forward jaw growth, proper tongue placement, and ideal arch width; especially during critical growth periods.
This leads to healthier profiles, better jaw function, and more balanced facial symmetry. By guiding this growth early, we reduce the risk of future orthodontic relapse and support your child’s confidence and comfort in how they look and feel.
4. Corrects Harmful Oral Habits That Affect Development
Common habits like thumb sucking, nail biting, tongue thrusting, or mouth breathing can interfere with healthy dental and jaw growth. Left unaddressed, they can undo orthodontic progress over time.
Functional orthodontics incorporates myofunctional therapy, which retrains the tongue, lips, and facial muscles to function properly. This therapy encourages correct swallowing and breathing patterns, and prevents long-term issues from developing.
By addressing the root of the habit—not just the symptoms—we improve results and reduce the risk of relapse after treatment.
5. May Reduce the Need for Braces Later
One of the biggest benefits of early, functional orthodontic care is prevention. Traditional braces are often used after crowding or misalignment has already occurred. Functional orthodontics, on the other hand, aims to guide the natural growth of the jaws and dental arches early on when the body is most responsive to change.
Why Families Choose Jackson Dental
We’re proud to be a trusted provider for families across Western South Dakota, Eastern Wyoming, and Eastern Montana. Our functional orthodontic care includes:
Myobrace® and other early intervention tools such as Palatal Expander; Bonded Expander, and Clear Aligner Expander
Personalized airway and growth evaluations
Myofunctional therapy integrated into treatment
A gentle, supportive team that makes your child feel at home
Ready to Learn More?
Curious if your child could benefit from functional orthodontics? Call us at (605) 892-6347 or Request an Appointment to get started with a personalized consultation.