Airway Orthodontics for Better Breathing
Orthodontics isn’t just about straight teeth and beautiful smiles; it’s also about supporting your overall health. At Deller Smiles Dental Care & Orthodontics, we focus on the connection between your airway, jaw development, and breathing patterns because these factors play a major role in long-term health and quality of life.
Airway orthodontics involves identifying and treating structural or developmental issues that can narrow the airway. By improving the airway space through growth-focused orthodontic techniques, we can help patients breathe better, sleep more soundly, and live healthier lives.
What Is Airway Orthodontics?
Airway orthodontics uses orthodontic treatments to expand or stabilize the airway, often by addressing jaw structure, tongue position, and oral habits. This approach is especially important for patients with:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB)
- Chronic mouth breathing
- Snoring or restless sleep
Instead of only straightening teeth, airway-focused orthodontics looks at how your jaws and soft tissues affect breathing during sleep. This whole-body approach can improve not just oral health, but sleep quality, energy levels, and systemic health.
Understanding Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB)
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when throat muscles, including the tongue and soft palate, temporarily relax during sleep, blocking the airway and causing breathing to stop and start repeatedly through the night.
These breathing pauses:
- Lower oxygen levels in the blood
- Increase carbon dioxide buildup
- Trigger cortisol release (the “stress hormone”)
- Elevate heart rate and blood pressure
Even if you don’t fully wake up, your body is forced out of deep, restorative sleep. Over time, this chronic stress on the body can lead to serious health issues.
Common Symptoms of OSA & SDB
- Snoring or noisy breathing at night
- Pauses in breathing while asleep
- Mouth breathing, especially in children
- Restless sleep, night sweats, or bedwetting
- Daytime drowsiness, irritability, or fatigue
- Short attention span, hyperactivity, or ADHD-like symptoms
- Learning or behavioral difficulties in children
- Morning headaches, anxiety, or mood changes
Left untreated, OSA has been linked to:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Suppressed immune function
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Weight gain and metabolic issues
Causes of Airway Obstruction
Airway issues can have multiple causes, including:
- Enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which block nasal airflow
- Narrow jaws or underdeveloped jaw structures, limiting tongue space
- Tongue-tie, which restricts tongue movement and proper resting posture
- Obesity, particularly in adults, which increases soft tissue around the airway
Many of these causes can be identified early in children and addressed through airway-focused orthodontic treatment.
Airway Orthodontic Treatments
Treatment is individualized and may involve a combination of:
1. Addressing Obstructive Tissues
For some patients, especially children, removing enlarged tonsils or adenoids can restore nasal breathing and reduce airway blockage.
2. Growth-Oriented Orthodontics
For children, jaw expansion and growth modification are powerful tools. By encouraging proper jaw growth early, we can:
- Increase upper airway volume
- Create more space for the tongue
- Reduce or eliminate snoring and mouth breathing
- Improve nasal airflow and sleep quality
3. Adult Airway Orthodontics
While growth modification is most effective in children, adults can still benefit from airway orthodontics. Expansion, orthodontic appliances, or other dental and medical interventions can significantly improve airway stability and sleep patterns.
When Is the Best Time to Check a Child’s Airway?
Many airway and growth concerns can be identified as early as ages 6 or 7, when the jaws are still developing. Early evaluation allows treatment to take advantage of natural growth and may prevent more complex problems in the future.
However, airway orthodontics is not just for kids. Adults who snore, mouth-breathe, or feel unrefreshed after sleep may also benefit from a thorough evaluation and customized treatment plan.
Schedule an Airway Orthodontic Consultation Today
Healthy breathing is essential for overall wellness. If you or your child struggles with snoring, restless sleep, mouth breathing, or other signs of airway obstruction, an airway-focused orthodontic evaluation is an important next step.
Contact Deller Smiles to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cecilia Deller. Together, you can review your concerns, discuss treatment options, and explore ways to support better breathing and better sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know patients and parents often have questions about how airway-focused care works and what to expect. Here are answers to some common questions about airway orthodontics at Deller Smiles Dental Care & Orthodontics.
Can My Child Outgrow Airway and Breathing Issues?
Some mild symptoms may improve with growth, but many airway problems persist or worsen if the underlying cause is not addressed. An early orthodontic and airway evaluation helps determine whether your child is likely to “outgrow” an issue or whether targeted treatment is needed.
How Does an Airway Evaluation Work at Deller Smiles?
During an airway evaluation, Dr. Deller reviews medical and dental history, examines jaw growth and tongue posture, and looks for signs of mouth breathing or sleep-related concerns. When needed, she may recommend coordination with your child’s pediatrician, ENT, or sleep specialist for additional testing.
Do All Children Who Snore Need Orthodontic Treatment?
Not necessarily. Snoring can be caused by enlarged tonsils, allergies, nasal congestion, or restricted jaw growth. Treatment depends on the underlying cause, which is why a proper airway assessment is important.
Can Airway Orthodontics Be Combined With Other Medical Treatments?
Yes. Airway orthodontics often works alongside care from other providers, such as ENTs, pediatricians, or sleep specialists. Coordinated treatment can address both structural and medical factors to create the best long-term outcome for breathing and sleep.
How Long Does Airway-Oriented Treatment Typically Take?
Treatment time varies based on age and the type of airway concern. Some patients improve with simple appliances, while others need more comprehensive orthodontics over several months.