Airway and Dentofacial Development

All physicians and dentists who evaluate the upper airway and dentofacial skeleton in the growing child should be aware of the wealth of pediatric dental and, especially, orthodontic literature that has been published over the past century as it pertains to airway and dentofacial development. The child who has a genetic predisposition toward the dolichocephalic (narrow) facial skeleton, a neuromuscular deficit, and structural upper airway compromise is particularly at risk for development of the long-face syndrome. Furthermore, the child who has a genetic tendency toward mandibular prognathism, tonsillar and tongue hypertrophy, and who is a chronic mouth-breather, is at particular risk for developing advanced mandibular prognathism. Unfortunately, there is little physician exposure to these concepts during medical school years and even during residency training programs. It behooves each specialty to be aware of the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and concerns of interrelated specialties. The beneficiaries of this sharing of knowledge will be tomorrow's leaders.