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Hours
Mon: 8am- 4pm
Tue: 8am- 4pm
Wed: 8am- 4pm
Thu: 8am- 4pm
Closed: Fri - Sun
Functional pediatric dentistry looks at more than just cavities and straight teeth—it focuses on how a child’s mouth, airway, and overall health work together as they grow. At our practice, we believe a healthy smile is one piece of a bigger picture that includes breathing, sleep, nutrition, and proper oral development.
What “Functional” Means
Traditional dentistry treats problems as they appear. Functional pediatric dentistry goes deeper by asking why issues develop in the first place. We evaluate how the teeth, jaws, muscles, and airway function together so we can guide healthy growth—not just fix symptoms.
Mouth breathing can dry out the tissues and create an environment where cavities can form more easily. Paying attention to nutrition can give us more insight on oral health. Our body is interconnected and the mouth gives a lot of insight to overall health. By paying attention and asking why early on, we can set up our children for better breathing, sleep, feeding, and overall development!
Airway & Breathing: Screening for mouth-breathing, snoring, or sleep-disordered breathing and offering early interventions.
Myofunctional Habits: Supporting proper tongue posture, lip seal, and swallowing patterns that protect orthodontic results and airway health.
Growth & Development: Monitoring jaw development and recommending early orthodontic guidance when needed.
Nutrition & Whole-Body Wellness: Discussing diet, hydration, and lifestyle choices that promote strong teeth and overall vitality.
Preventive Dentistry: Gentle, thorough care to keep teeth healthy while respecting the child’s growth and emotional comfort.
Early functional and airway-focused treatment can greatly reduce — and sometimes even eliminate — many related symptoms in children.
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See real patient success stories.
A clear, well-functioning airway supports your child’s posture, energy, breathing habits, and even their facial development.
Addressing functional and airway concerns early can dramatically reduce future oral health complications and support more balanced growth.
When breathing becomes effortless, your child can sleep better, feel more rested, and enjoy their day-to-day activities without struggle.
During your child’s first visit, we’ll take time to understand their breathing patterns, sleep habits, oral habits (like thumb sucking or pacifier use), nutritional considerations, and any symptoms you’ve noticed.
Every child is unique — and their treatment plan should be, too. Based on your child’s needs, we may recommend lifestyle adjustments, myofunctional support, custom oral appliances, or early orthodontic guidance. Whatever the plan includes, we’ll guide you step-by-step so you feel informed, supported, and confident.
We’ll recommend regular check-ins to monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed. If additional support is beneficial, we may refer you to trusted specialists who share our whole-body approach to pediatric health.
Routine pediatric dentistry focuses on cavities, cleanings, and basic oral health. Functional pediatric dentistry looks deeper at how your child breathes, sleeps, and grows. We evaluate tongue posture, oral habits, muscle function, airway health, and nutrition to build a comprehensive plan that supports whole-body development.
Children are still developing — their jaws, muscles, and breathing patterns are constantly growing and changing. Addressing issues early supports proper development and can:
Airway issues in children can show up in ways that don’t always seem related to breathing at first. Common signs include:
If you notice any of these, it may be a sign that your child’s airway isn’t functioning properly and could benefit from an evaluation.
