What Is Long Face Syndrome? The Role of Facial Development and Breathing in Children
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Oğuz Öztoprak’s functional jaw orthopaedics and airway approach.
Many parents begin to notice differences in their children’s facial development over time. In some children, the following may be seen:
- The face looks longer
- The lips remain constantly open
- The lower jaw looks set back
- The upper teeth become prominent
- There is difficulty breathing through the nose
Often this is evaluated only as genetic. However, during the growth and development period there are many factors that affect the shaping of the facial bones. One of them is how the child breathes. For this reason we have to ask: Is a child’s facial development only genetic, or can breathing habits also affect this process?
What Is Long Face Syndrome?
Long face syndrome (long face pattern) is one of the growth patterns in which the face develops more than normal in the vertical direction. In these children, the following features can often be seen:
- Increased facial height
- Lips that do not fully close
- A narrow upper jaw
- A high palate structure
- A lower jaw that looks set back
- An open-mouth posture habit
Not every long face appearance is pathological. However, in some children this appearance can be related to the airway and breathing functions.
How Is Facial Development Shaped?
Facial development is not only the result of genetic factors. During the growth process, the following can also affect development:
- The way of breathing
- Tongue position
- Swallowing habits
- Muscle functions
- Chewing habits
For this reason, some functional habits that form in childhood can affect the direction of the facial skeleton.
Can Mouth Breathing Affect Facial Development?
In healthy development, the tongue is expected to rest on the palate and nasal breathing to be dominant. However, in some children mouth breathing can develop due to:
- Enlarged adenoids
- Tonsil problems
- Nasal obstruction
- Allergic problems
- Airway narrowing
Long-term mouth breathing can in some children be seen together with:
- A narrow upper jaw
- A high palate
- A long face appearance
- Lip closure problems
For this reason, the way of breathing is accepted as one of the factors that can affect facial development.
Why Is Tongue Position So Important?
The tongue is not only an organ that enables speech. It is also a natural functional force source that affects jaw development during the growth period. Normally the tongue rests on the palate. In some children who breathe through the mouth, however, the tongue may be in a lower position. This can be one of the factors that affect:
- The development of the upper jaw
- Palate width
- Tooth alignment
Can a Long Face Appearance Affect a Child’s Daily Life?
In some children, the following signs may also be seen together with the long face pattern:
- Snoring
- Sleeping with the mouth open
- Restless sleep
- Morning fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Attention problems
These signs do not arise directly from the long face appearance. However, they can appear together with the same functional problems. For this reason, it is necessary to look not only at the child’s facial appearance but at the overall development process.
The Long Face Pattern and Sports Performance
In children who do sports, the following are important:
- Breathing quality
- Sleep quality
- Concentration
- Balance mechanisms
For this reason, evaluating the airway and jaw development in athletes in the growth period is an important part of the functional approach.
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Oğuz Öztoprak’s Approach
In our clinic, children with a long face appearance are not evaluated only in terms of tooth alignment. At the same time, the following are evaluated together:
- The way of breathing
- Airway structure
- Tongue position
- Upper jaw development
- Lower jaw development
- Occlusal relationships
- Sleep symptoms
- Posture and spinal balance
The aim is not only to create an aesthetic appearance, but to understand the functional factors that can affect the growth and development process.
Why Is Functional Jaw Orthopaedics Important?
Functional jaw orthopaedics does not aim only to correct the teeth. This approach evaluates the relationship between the following together:
- Breathing
- The airway
- Jaw development
- Muscle functions
- Facial development
Especially in children in the growth period, early evaluation can contribute to a healthier guidance of development.
Conclusion
A long face appearance is not only an aesthetic difference. In some children it can be part of a broader functional picture related to the airway, breathing functions and jaw development.
For this reason, in children in the growth period, attention should be paid not only to tooth alignment but also to how they breathe, how they sleep and how their facial development is shaped.
Because sometimes the direction of facial growth can be a silent reflection of the way the child breathes.
If you are also curious about why sleeping with an open mouth in children should be taken seriously, you can read our article "Why Should Sleeping With an Open Mouth in Children Be Taken Seriously?"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is long face syndrome?
Long face syndrome (long face pattern) is one of the growth patterns in which the face develops more than normal in the vertical direction. Increased facial height, lips that do not fully close, a narrow upper jaw, a high palate, a retruded-looking lower jaw and an open-mouth posture habit may be seen. Not every long face appearance is pathological.
How is facial development shaped?
Facial development is not only the result of genetic factors. During the growth process, the way of breathing, tongue position, swallowing habits, muscle functions and chewing habits can also affect development.
Does mouth breathing affect facial development?
Long-term mouth breathing can in some children be seen together with a narrow upper jaw, a high palate, a long face appearance and lip closure problems. For this reason, the way of breathing is accepted as one of the factors that can affect facial development.
Why is tongue position so important?
The tongue is a natural functional force source that affects jaw development during the growth period. Normally it rests on the palate; in some children who breathe through the mouth, it may be in a lower position. This can affect upper jaw development, palate width and tooth alignment.
Can a long face appearance affect a child’s daily life?
In some children, snoring, sleeping with the mouth open, restless sleep, morning fatigue, difficulty concentrating and attention problems may be seen together with the long face pattern. These signs do not arise directly from the facial appearance but can appear together with the same functional problems.
How is a child with a long face appearance evaluated?
Not only tooth alignment; the way of breathing, airway structure, tongue position, upper and lower jaw development, occlusal relationships, sleep symptoms and posture are evaluated together. The aim is to understand the functional factors that can affect the development process.