Micrognathia

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

The face

Overview

Treatment

Micrognathia

Alternative Names:

Under-bite; Receding chin

Home Care:

If micrognathia interferes with feeding, special feeding techniques and equipment will be required. Techniques can be learned through special programs at most hospitals .

Call your health care provider if:

Your child seems to have a very small jaw.
Your child has difficulty feeding properly.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting micrognathia in detail may include:

When did you first notice that the jaw was small?
How severe is it?
Is there difficulty eating?
What other symptoms are also present?

The physical examination will include a thorough examination of the mouth.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed are:

If there are other symptoms present that indicate an inherited condition, testing for that condition may be recommended.

Intervention:

Surgery or orthodontic appliances may be recommended.

After seeing your health care provider:

You may want to add a diagnosis related to micrognathia to your personal medical record.

Review Date: 10/27/2005
Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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