Presenter: William Hang, DDS, MSD

Format: Audio & Slides

Malocclusion and poor facial balance are largely a product of civilization. Unfortunately, downward and backward growth of the face accompanying malocclusion has become the norm. Recent research shows that people with faces which have not grown properly forward may have reduced airways which contribute to snoring and breathing problems including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Many orthodontic treatment plans are retractive in nature and only hasten downward and backward growth of the face. There is a completely different approach to develop the face forward in children, and research has shown that the airway can be improved through its use. This lecture will outline the interplay between diet and malocclusion, how undesirable facial growth may be modified to be more favorable in children and how retractive orthodontics can be reversed in adults.