Why the Long Face? is a fun-to-read children's book suitable for ages 5-9 that addresses the important facial growth and development concerns associated with thumb sucking. Dr. Morgan is a dentist with specialized training in craniofacial growth, orthodontics and sleep medicine who conveys the important message that alteration of normal facial growth can be caused by improper sucking habits in children. Thumbs, "sippy cups" and long term use of pacifiers displace normal tongue position and alter muscle tone with the unfortunate consequence of poor tooth alignment and diminished facial beauty. These habits also lead to changes in jaw structure, reducing airway size, leading to poor sleep and snoring, behavioral problems, and poor school performance. These children often fail to thrive and carry the associated problems into adulthood.
In this book Dr. Morgan is joined by his favorite illustrator, Manny Aguilera, to portray a story about a very special little girl named Gracie in a wonderful Curious George style. In her story, Gracie loves to suck her thumb, but finds a way to stop sucking with the help of her parents, her dentist, and even her pony Alice. Parents will find this book very helpful in guiding their children away from harmful habits and we hope that every dentist will make our book available to kids and parents in their waiting rooms.