Growth and Development for Children

Maximizing Your Child’s Development Through Early Expansion

Creating Space, Supporting Growth, and Preventing Future Dental & Health Issues

Your child’s smile is not just about straight teeth — it’s about healthy jaw development, open airway growth, proper bite alignment, and lifelong function. At Gorman Health and Wellness, Dental Sleep Medicine, we believe in helping children grow in ways that support not only a beautiful smile but also better breathing, sleep, chewing, and facial development. We treat the root cause, not just mask the symptoms.

The most important step in this process for many children is expansion, widening the upper jaw (maxilla) at the right time in growth. Done early and correctly, expansion can reduce or eliminate the need for braces, extractions, or surgical treatment later in life. It can also eliminate the need for further orthodontics later in life because if the jaw has not grown properly, their teeth will again become crowded and crooked.

Call 818.995.1891 or Complete the Form to Schedule a FREE Growth and Development for Children Consultation

Name
Consent

Why Expansion Matters: Beyond Just Your Child’s Smile

The Growth Window: A Critical Opportunity

Children are not small adults; their bones, airways, and facial structures are still growing. Those growth patterns influence lifelong health and function. Before puberty, a child’s jaw bones are malleable and responsive to guidance. This is when early expansion is most effective; it helps create space for erupting teeth, supports proper arch shape, and allows the nasal airway to develop more fully. 

Without proper expansion, the upper jaw can remain too narrow, leading to a cascade of developmental issues.

Expansion: A Simple, Painless, Often Invisible Way to Unlock Healthy Growth

When most parents hear the word “orthodontics,” they think about braces and straight teeth. But before teeth ever need to be moved or extracted, the most important question is: Is there enough room for them to grow naturally?

Expansion focuses on creating space first, so teeth, jaws, and airways can develop the way nature intended, often reducing or eliminating the need for braces, extractions, or complex orthodontic treatment later.

Palatal (Upper Jaw) Expansion – What It Is

Palatal expansion refers to the gentle widening of the upper jaw (maxilla) using a specially designed orthodontic appliance called a palatal expander. In growing children, the upper jaw is made of two halves joined by a growth seam called the mid‑palatal suture. This suture can be guided and widened safely while a child is still developing.

As the expander is activated gradually over time, the upper jaw widens, creating space where it is most needed in the bone itself, not by forcing teeth outward.
The goals of upper jaw expansion include:
  • Creating adequate space so permanent teeth can erupt (grow-in) naturally and in better alignment
  • Reducing or eliminating crowding (malocclusion) that often leads to braces or extractions
  • Broadening the smile and improving facial balance
Important side benefits include:
  • Increasing the room for the tongue to rest properly
  • Allowing the nasal airway and sinus passages to develop more fully
  • Supporting healthier nasal breathing and better sleep

Timing Matters

Palatal expansion is most effective in growing children, typically before puberty, when the upper jaw sutures have not yet fused. Early intervention allows us to guide growth gently rather than correct problems aggressively later.

Mandibular (Lower Jaw) Expansion - Symmetry Matters

While upper jaw expansion is more widely recognized, lower jaw development is just as important. The lower jaw does not have a midline suture like the upper jaw, but that does not mean it cannot be guided. In children, the shape, width, and forward growth of the lower arch can still be influenced through growth‑friendly orthopedic appliances, muscle guidance, and functional therapy.
When the lower arch is narrow or underdeveloped, children experience:
  • Lower tooth crowding
  • Bite imbalances (crossbites, deep bites, or poor jaw alignment)
  • Limited space for the tongue
  • Increased strain on the jaw joints (TMJs)
Guiding lower jaw development can:
  • Create facial symmetry
  • Create more room for the lower teeth to erupt without crowding
  • Improve how the upper and lower teeth fit together
  • Support healthier tongue posture and swallowing patterns
  • Reduce stress on the jaw joints
  • Improve airway space and overall oral function

Why Expanding Both Jaws Matter

True, stable results come from balance. When both the upper and lower arches are properly developed:

  • The bite is more stable and comfortable
  • Teeth are less likely to relapse after treatment
  • The tongue has enough space to rest in the palate (where it belongs)
  • Nasal breathing is encouraged over mouth breathing
  • Long‑term facial growth is more harmonious
This whole‑mouth approach helps address the root cause of crowding and malocclusion, rather than simply managing the symptoms with braces alone.

What Expansion Feels Like for Your Child

Parents are often relieved to learn that expansion is:
 
  • Gentle and gradual
  • Non‑surgical
  • Typically painless
  • Often low‑profile or minimally visible
Most children adapt quickly, and any initial pressure or awareness fades within days. Because expansion works with growth, not against it, children tolerate it extremely well.

Call 818.995.1891 or Complete the Form to Schedule a FREE Growth and Development for Children Consultation

Name
Consent

How Expansion Prevents Braces & Extractions

One of the most impactful benefits of early expansion is its ability to eliminate the need for traditional orthodontics.

Space for Teeth Means Less Crowding

A narrow maxilla and mandible often result in crowded teeth, which is why many children eventually require braces. Expansion increases the width of the dental arch and lower jaw so that permanent teeth have room to erupt in better positions.

Reduced Need for Extractions

In many kids, crowded arches lead to decisions to extract permanent teeth to “make room.” Early expansion often eliminates or reduces the need for extractions because it creates space naturally. 

Less Complex Treatment Later

When maxillary growth is guided early:

  • Phase II orthodontic care becomes shorter
  • There is no need for braces.
  • Jaw and bite correction can occur more predictably and naturally.
This means fewer appointments, less discomfort, and a smoother path to a beautiful smile and a much healthier child.

Lifelong Consequences of Improper Jaw Development

Malocclusion
(Bad Bite)

Poor jaw growth directly leads to malocclusion, including crossbites, crowding, open bites, and overjets. This condition affects millions of children worldwide and is listed by the World Health Organization as a major oral health concern. Malocclusion isn’t just about crooked teeth; it affects:

  • Chewing efficiency
  • Tooth wear
  • Jaw joint health
  • Painful TMJ/TMD
  • Facial symmetry and appearance

Airway Narrowing &
Sleep Disturbances

A narrow upper jaw can limit nasal airway size, forcing a child to breathe through the mouth. Mouth breathing and airway restriction can lead to:

  • Snoring
  • Restless sleep
  • Symptoms similar to ADHD
  • Increased risk of sleep‑disordered breathing
  • Bedwetting
  • Poor concentration leading to poor grades
These breathing issues have major lifetime implications for growth and daytime function. 

Impact on Facial
Growth Patterns

The way a child breathes influences how their face develops:

  • Mouth breathing can lead to longer facial heights
  • More cavities
  • Lower jaw postures can shift backward
  • Tongue position can alter dental arch shape

This interplay between oral function and facial growth explains why expansion isn’t just cosmetic, it’s developmental.

Health Benefits Beyond Tooth Alignment

Expansion helps more than just tooth placement. It’s connected to systemic health and wellbeing.

Improved Breathing & Better Sleep

By widening the maxilla and mandible, expansion allows the nasal airway to open, supporting natural nasal breathing — the most efficient and healthy way to breathe. This affects:
  • Oxygen intake
  • Sleep quality
  • Daytime performance, better grades
  • Behavior and concentration
Children who breathe better sleep better, which has cascading benefits on mood, hormones, and growth.

Reduced Risk of Sleep‑Related Disorders

Early airway‑focused Dental Sleep Medicine care reduces the likelihood of pediatric sleep apnea and other chronic breathing problems later in life.

It's Never Too Early to Get a Second Opinion for Expansion vs. Braces

Now is the ideal time, during the time when your child’s baby teeth are falling out, and their permanent teeth are coming in, usually between ages 6 and 12. This is when sutures are not fully fused, and bones are most responsive. Starting too late can reduce outcomes:

  • Sutures become rigid
  • Expansion becomes more difficult
  • The risk of needing surgical correction increases

What Expansion Looks Like at Gorman Health and Wellness Dental Sleep Medicine

Every child receives a comprehensive evaluation that includes:

  • Dental and jaw alignment analysis
  • Airway and breathing assessment
  • Growth pattern review

If expansion is recommended, we use appliances designed to:

  • Gently widen the maxilla (upper jaw)
  • Gently widen the mandible (lower jaw)
  • Support balanced facial development
  • Improve airway space
  • Allow erupting teeth to find space naturally

Our goal is always a holistic approach, addressing function before form.

Real‑World Outcomes: What Parents Can Expect

Comfort & Adaptation

Children adapt quickly to expanders. Initial sensations or speech changes are temporary and decrease as children adjust.

Visible Growth Benefits

Expansion often improves:
  • Smile symmetry
  • Arch width
  • Bite comfort
  • Breathing patterns
  • Better sleep
  • Better concentration
Many children show progress within weeks, and stable results develop over months of guided growth.

Common Questions About Expansion

Speech changes are usually temporary. Most children adapt quickly and continue eating normally.
A: Many children need less extensive orthodontic treatment after expansion, some need simple clear aligners, and some avoid additional phases altogether.
Most children experience minimal discomfort. Any pressure is gentle and monitored.

Final Thoughts, Why Early Expansion Matters

Expansion isn’t just about creating space; it’s about guiding healthy growth, protecting airway function, and avoiding avoidable dental procedures later in life. Early expansion is about treating the root cause, not masking the symptoms.  Early expansion gives children the best chance for:

  • A healthy bite
  • Clear airway breathing
  • Balanced facial development
  • Reduced need for braces or extractions
  • Better Sleep
  • More concentration
  • Healthier life

Take the Next Step for Your Child’s Development

If you’re concerned about crowding, breathing patterns, or your child’s dental development, early evaluation or a second opinion before braces may make a significant difference. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Gorman and discover how expansion, at the right time, supports your child’s lifelong health.

Call 818.995.1891 or Complete the Form to Schedule a FREE Growth and Development for Children Consultation

Name
Consent