Course 2: Growth Guidance – Early Orthodontic Intervention in the Growing Patient

📅 April 23–25, 2026 | 📍Northern Virginia/DC

If you’ve ever wondered, “What do I really need to know to treat pediatric airway cases?”—this is it.

Course 2 is the benchmark of the ASAP Mini-Residency. It’s where everything comes together: growth, airway, TMJ, and orthodontics. This is the course that shows you not just why early intervention matters, but how to do it in your practice.

Why This Course Matters

Children don’t grow in a straight line—their craniofacial structures develop in stages. Once you identify that a child’s growth trajectory is off course, the key is determining the stage of development where interceptive treatment will have the greatest impact on correcting those particular issues. That’s when your interventions create the most meaningful and lasting change.”

This course is where you learn to recognize those growth stages and act decisively—guiding growth, correcting malocclusion, and supporting better development of structures to reduce the risk of airway and sleep dysfunction throughout that child’s lifespan.  

For any dentist who wants to truly incorporate pediatric airway management into their practice, this is the keystone course. 

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this course, you and your team will be able to:

• Diagnose and plan growth-guidance cases with confidence
• Order, capture, and interpret records and imaging of the craniofacial structure
• Understand the role and limitations of cephalometric analysis in diagnosis and treatment planning
• Connect the dots between growth, airway, and TMJ development
• Apply phased care strategies—matching treatment goals to the patient’s age and developmental stage
• Provide early intervention for developing Class I, II, and III malocclusions
• Use orthodontic appliances and TMD splints effectively in growing patients
• Adjust treatment plans based on medical diagnoses of sleep-related breathing disorders and collaborate care with other healthcare providers. 
  

Team Track: Hands-On Roles for Your Staff

Airway implementation isn’t a solo effort—it’s a team project.

• Assistants: Learn to capture diagnostic records and place appliance orders hands-on
• Admin Team: Develop skills in parent communication and support case presentation prep
• Hygienists: Recognize growth stage markers and contribute to ongoing monitoring

When your whole team understands the why and how of growth guidance, case acceptance skyrockets and implementation becomes seamless.

Why You Can’t Miss This Course

• If Course 1 gave you the foundation, Course 2 is the blueprint.
• It delivers the techniques, protocols, and clinical systems that answer the question: “How do I treat?”
• It’s not just about early orthodontics—it’s about integrating airway, TMJ, and growth into one clear, actionable approach and philosophy that fits your practice. 

👉 If you’ve ever asked, “What should I know to treat pediatric airway cases?”—this is THAT  course!

Faculty:

Dr. Stacy Becker | Dr. Tracey Nguyen | Dr. Michelle Weddle | Resident Faculty