Airway & Dental Development
Healthy development starts early
A healthy smile depends on more than strong teeth. At every visit, Dr. Fatina looks at how your child's jaws, airway, tongue and teeth are developing, along with oral habits and speech. Spotting concerns early gives your family more options and helps your child grow and breathe well.
What we look for
- Mouth breathing or snoring
- Restless sleep or teeth grinding
- Tongue-tie or lip-tie, including feeding concerns in babies
- Thumb-sucking or pacifier habits that continue past the toddler years
- Crowded teeth, a narrow upper jaw, or bite problems
- Speech that is hard to understand for your child's age
Why it matters
How a child breathes, where the tongue rests, and long-lasting habits like thumb-sucking can all affect how the jaws and teeth grow. When we find these signs early, we can often guide healthy development instead of correcting problems later.
How we help
- Development and airway screening as part of your child's regular checkups and cleanings
- Laser treatment for tongue and lip ties when they affect feeding, speech or oral health. Learn about tongue-tie treatment.
- Early orthodontic evaluations, with coordination with trusted orthodontists
- Referrals to myofunctional therapists, speech therapists, ENTs and sleep specialists when your child needs them
When to reach out
If you've noticed any of these signs, or you have questions about your child's breathing, sleep or jaw development, call us at 646-854-7752 or contact us to book a visit.
