During childhood, the way your child breathes helps shape their face, jaws, and airway. The early years are the window when growth can still be gently guided.
Tell us what you've noticed. Our treatment coordinator will reach out the same business day.
Kids rarely complain about breathing during sleep. Instead, the body compensates, creating signs that parents are often the first to notice.
These signs may mean your child's airway is working harder to keep breathing stable during sleep. When identified early, these patterns can often be evaluated and gently guided during the years growth is still happening.
When breathing is restricted during sleep, the body adapts to keep airflow going. Over time those adaptations can shape facial development, muscle activity, and sleep quality.
Mouth breathing, snoring, and restless sleep can appear as the airway and face are still developing.
Crowded teeth, clenching, jaw tension, and fatigue may emerge as growth continues along the same path.
Similar patterns may contribute to sleep-disordered breathing or sleep apnea later in life.
Screening early lets us flag concerns and coordinate with your pediatrician while growth is still happening.
Because airway development involves multiple systems, we use a coordinated approach: we screen and coordinate with your pediatrician (and ENT or sleep physician when needed). Every step is designed to be gentle and child-friendly.
CBCT airway imaging and CMDI airway mapping show us both anatomy and how your child's airway is functioning.
A HealthyStart appliance is used to help guide jaw growth and tongue posture while your child is still growing.
CMDI functional airway training helps build healthier breathing and muscle-coordination habits.
We screen and coordinate with your pediatrician (and ENT or sleep physician when needed), who diagnose and treat medical sleep problems.
Coordinated pediatric airway care โ screening, HealthyStart growth guidance, and CMDI airway training, coordinated with your pediatrician. Families travel to Lafayette from across Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky.
About an hour from Indianapolis and a day trip from Chicago and Fort Wayne. We group sessions so out-of-town care takes fewer trips.
Every step is built to be comfortable and non-invasive โ so visits are something your child can handle with ease.
The growing years are a window: some growth-guidance options are only possible while a child is still growing.
Children rarely complain about breathing during sleep, so the body compensates in ways parents notice: mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, grinding or clenching teeth, dark circles under the eyes, difficulty waking, and daytime tiredness. These may indicate the airway is working harder to keep breathing stable. If you notice pauses in breathing during sleep, talk with your pediatrician.
During childhood, breathing patterns influence how the face, jaws, and airway develop. Identifying patterns early lets us screen, coordinate with your pediatrician, and use growth guidance while growth can still be guided. Left unaddressed, these patterns may contribute to crowded teeth, jaw tension, and sleep disruption โ and, in adulthood, sleep-disordered breathing.
The Pediatric Airway Development Program includes CBCT airway imaging, CMDI airway mapping, a HealthyStart growth guidance appliance, CMDI functional airway training, and ongoing monitoring visits. We screen and coordinate with your pediatrician (and ENT or sleep physician when needed). You will receive a complete written estimate at your consultation, and monthly financing is available.
The program is designed to be gentle and child-friendly. The appliance is removable and the airway training is age-appropriate. We go at your child's pace.
Request a consultation. We'll screen your child's airway, explain whether growth guidance makes sense, and coordinate with your pediatrician.
Request a Consultation โAbout the doctor: Shane Cope, DDS, MSD โ specialist in periodontics (Indiana University School of Dentistry) and in oral medicine and orofacial pain (University of Southern California).
Last reviewed October 2026
Highland Creek Family Dental's general dentists: Dr. Melinda Bodine, DDS (East Office) ยท Dr. Han Na Park (South Office).
Dr. Shane Cope, DDS, is a specialist in periodontics, oral medicine, and orofacial pain. Dental services on this site outside periodontics, oral medicine, and orofacial pain are provided by general dentists. Your right to a Good Faith Estimate.