Airway Orthodontics

According to American Association of Orthodontics—

“The prime objective of orthodontics is to ensure optimal alignment of teeth and jaws, enhancing the symmetry of one’s facial structure. Modern orthodontics offers a blend of traditional practices and innovative technology, ensuring more efficient, less painful, and aesthetically pleasing treatment.”

In our practice, we take into account the conventional objectives of orthodontic principles and incorporate additional metrics to include Structure, Function and Behavior.

Our airway evaluation and treatments are designed to help improve our patients facial and airway structure so that the passage of air through the nose leading to our lungs is not impeded. If a patient has trouble breathing through their nose then we have methods to improve this important issue. We are designed to breathe mainly through our nose and not through our mouth. Mouth breathing leads to negative structural and physiologic changes.

Other important factors we take into account in our airway assessment include posture, joint stability, testing for sleep apnea, evaluation of autonomic arousals, breathing evaluation, asymmetrical growth, cervical spine development, narrow airway circumference, tonsils and adenoids, chewing and swallowing patterns, ADHD type behavior, un-refreshed sleep, poor academic performance, etc. 

Our growing list of medical specialists include, but not limited to, Neurologists, Sleep physicians, Doctors of Osteopathy, Cranial osteopaths, Psychiatrists, ENT’s, Naturopathic Doctors, Physical Therapists, Chiropractors and Acupuncturists. Together, they help us as needed to evaluate and treat our patients collaboratively.