MICROGNATHIA (Small lower jaw)

 Micrognathia is also known as Micrognathism or Mandibular Hypoplasia. It is a condition in which the lower jaw is unusually small. It is mostly found in babies, children and some adults.

Children may be born with this condition or it can appear later on. In most cases, as the child grows  older and approaches puberty, the jaw grows bigger and normalizes. But in some other cases, micrognathia may persist into adulthood. 

In severe cases, micrognathia can prevent the child from feeding properly. It also causes the teeth not to align normally as they begin to emerge.

Micrognathia is usually a sign of a genetic syndrome or condition. These syndromes may be inherited or caused by genetic mutations.

Some of the syndromes that cause micrognathia are:

·        Progeria
·        Trisomy 13
·        Trisomy 18
·        Cri-du-chat syndrome
·        Achondrogenesis
·        Pierre Robin syndrome
·        Treacher Collins syndrome
·        Marfan syndrome
·        Fetal alcohol syndrome
·        Turner syndrome 

Treatment and management methods of micrognathia include:

·        Using modified feeding methods and special equipments if the child is finding it difficult to eat
·        Performing corrective surgery on the child. This can be performed by an oral surgeon. It involves the addition or movement of the bones in the jaw so as to extend it
·        Using corrective devices such as braces to help fix misaligned teeth caused by this condition
·        Most importantly, treatment of the underlying health condition is strongly advised.

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