The Connection Between Airways and Orthodontics
The relationship between jaw development and airway function becomes clear when you consider how the mouth, nose, and throat work together during breathing. Narrow upper jaws often lead to restricted nasal passages, forcing mouth breathing that can disrupt sleep patterns and affect daytime energy levels. Similarly, a recessed lower jaw may cause the tongue to fall back during sleep, partially blocking the airway.
Traditional orthodontics focuses primarily on tooth alignment and bite correction, but airway orthodontics takes a broader view of facial development and function. This approach recognizes that proper jaw growth creates space not only for teeth but also for the tongue and airways that support healthy breathing patterns. Sleep apnea affects over 22 million Americans, and many cases stem from structural issues that develop during childhood and adolescence. Early intervention through airway orthodontics can help prevent these problems or reduce their severity later in life.
Early Development and Breathing Patterns
Children who breathe through their mouths instead of their noses often develop distinctive facial characteristics, including narrow upper jaws, high palatal vaults, and elongated faces. Mouth breathing during critical developmental years can alter normal growth patterns and lead to both dental and airway problems that persist into adulthood. Airway orthodontics addresses these developmental concerns through techniques that encourage proper nasal breathing while guiding facial growth in healthy directions. This proactive approach often prevents more complex problems from developing and may eliminate the need for jaw surgery later in life.
Treatment Approaches in Airway Orthodontics
Traditional orthodontics primarily concentrates on straightening teeth and correcting bite alignment. While these goals remain important, airway orthodontics takes a more holistic view by examining how dental and jaw development affects breathing capacity and function throughout life. This approach recognizes that restricted airways can contribute to numerous health issues, from disrupted sleep to chronic fatigue and even developmental concerns in children.
Modern airway orthodontics offers several treatment options designed to improve both dental alignment and breathing function.
Palatal Expansion
Palatal expansion represents one of the most effective techniques, using advanced appliances to widen narrow upper jaws and create more space for both teeth and airways.
Rapid Palatal Expansion
Rapid palatal expansion works particularly well in children and adolescents whose jaw growth is still active. This treatment gradually widens the upper jaw, increasing nasal cavity width and improving airflow through the nose. Many patients notice immediate improvements in breathing comfort, while the expanded arch also provides better space for permanent teeth.
Surgically Assisted Expansion
For adults whose jaw growth is complete, surgically assisted expansion may be necessary to achieve similar results. This approach combines orthodontic expansion with minor surgical procedures to create the jaw width needed for optimal function.
Functional Appliance Therapy
Functional appliances represent another cornerstone of airway orthodontics, designed to encourage proper jaw relationships and tongue posture. These appliances help train the muscles of the face and mouth to function in ways that support both good dental alignment and healthy breathing patterns.
Mandibular advancement devices can help position the lower jaw in a more forward position, increasing airway space and reducing the likelihood of breathing obstructions during sleep. Combined with other orthodontic treatments, these approaches address multiple aspects of airway function simultaneously.
During an airway orthodontic evaluation, Dr. Silva carefully assesses not just your teeth and bite, but also your jaw position, tongue placement, airway passages, and postural habits that might indicate breathing challenges. This comprehensive examination helps identify potential restrictions that might be addressed during orthodontic treatment, potentially improving both oral function and overall wellness simultaneously.
Signs of Airway Issues
Many patients don’t realize that common symptoms they experience daily might be connected to airway restrictions that can be addressed through specialized orthodontic treatment. Common indicators include chronic mouth breathing, snoring or gasping during sleep, restless sleep or frequent waking, morning headaches or dry mouth, daytime fatigue despite adequate sleep time, difficulty concentrating, forward head posture, and teeth grinding or clenching.
If you or your child experience these symptoms, an airway-focused evaluation may reveal opportunities to improve both oral structure and breathing function through specialized orthodontic treatment. Early intervention is particularly valuable for children, as it can guide proper growth and development during critical formative years.
Dr. Silva brings specialized training in airway orthodontics to provide comprehensive treatment that considers your total health. Her advanced education through the University of Florida School of Dentistry’s prestigious Mastership program includes over 600 hours of training across all dental specialties, including this cutting-edge approach.
What Are the Benefits of Airway Orthodontics?
Patients who undergo airway orthodontic treatment often experience improvements that extend far beyond dental alignment. Better breathing patterns frequently lead to more restful sleep, increased daytime energy, and improved concentration. Many patients report feeling more alert and focused after addressing breathing-related issues through orthodontic intervention.
Facial development improvements from airway orthodontics often enhance overall appearance as well. Proper jaw development creates better facial balance and can improve profile aesthetics while supporting optimal function. These changes typically become more pronounced as treatment progresses and facial growth patterns improve.
Children who exhibit mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, or attention difficulties may be excellent candidates for airway-focused orthodontic treatment. Children who receive early airway orthodontic intervention may avoid more complex treatments later in life. By addressing developmental issues during active growth periods, we can often achieve results that would require surgery if treatment were delayed until adulthood.
Adults with a history of sleep breathing problems, chronic fatigue, or orthodontic relapse may also benefit significantly from airway orthodontic approaches. Even patients who have previously completed traditional orthodontic treatment sometimes find that airway-focused techniques address underlying issues that weren’t fully resolved.
Long-Term Health Implications
The health benefits of improved airway function extend throughout life. Better breathing patterns during sleep can reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems associated with sleep breathing disorders. Additionally, proper nasal breathing helps filter and humidify incoming air, supporting better respiratory health overall. Improved jaw relationships from airway orthodontics often reduce the risk of temporomandibular joint problems and associated pain. When jaws function in proper alignment, the stress on joint structures decreases significantly, promoting long-term comfort and function.
Airway Orthodontics Costs & Financing Options
Estimated Range: $3,800–$7,500
Monthly Payments Starting At: $103
At Floss Lincoln Park, we provide comprehensive airway orthodontic services with treatment costs ranging from $3,800 to $7,500, depending on your specific needs. Through our partnership with CareCredit, monthly payments can be as low as $103, helping make specialized orthodontic care more accessible. We also work with a wide range of dental insurance providers to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Transform Your Health Through Airway Orthodontics
Airway orthodontics offers a unique opportunity to address multiple health concerns simultaneously while creating the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. This comprehensive approach recognizes that optimal oral health involves much more than straight teeth—it encompasses the entire system of breathing, sleeping, and functioning that affects your daily life. When airways are properly supported through orthodontic treatment, patients often experience transformative improvements in energy, sleep quality, and overall well-being.
Dr. Delone Jouja and Dr. Martha Silva bring advanced training in airway orthodontics to our Lincoln Park practice, combining their extensive experience with the latest techniques to help patients achieve optimal results. Our team understands that each patient’s airway and orthodontic needs are unique, and we develop personalized treatment plans that address your specific concerns while supporting long-term health and function. Contact us today at 773-697-8119 or schedule your consultation to discover how airway orthodontics can improve not just your smile, but your entire quality of life through better breathing and sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is airway orthodontics and how is it different from traditional orthodontics?
Airway orthodontics focuses on developing the structures of the face, jaws, and airway to support healthy breathing, especially nasal breathing. Unlike traditional orthodontics that primarily focuses on straightening teeth, airway orthodontics addresses the root causes of breathing challenges by considering how jaw development, tongue posture, and airway size interact to affect overall health. This comprehensive approach can help prevent sleep-disordered breathing, improve facial development, and create a more attractive smile while supporting lifelong health.
At what age should my child be evaluated for airway orthodontics?
We recommend an initial airway evaluation as early as age 3 if symptoms are present, such as mouth breathing, snoring, or restless sleep. By age 7, most children are ready for a comprehensive airway and growth assessment. Early intervention during the “golden period” of development (ages 6-12) allows us to guide jaw growth naturally and can reduce the need for tooth extractions or more extensive orthodontic treatment later. The earlier we identify potential airway issues, the more options we have for non-invasive, growth-guided correction.
What are the signs my child might need airway orthodontics?
Common signs include persistent mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, bedwetting beyond age 5, frequent colds or congestion, dark circles under the eyes, long narrow face, crowded teeth, and behavioral issues like difficulty concentrating or hyperactivity. Children may also show signs like grinding teeth at night, forward head posture, or complaints of being tired during the day. If you notice any of these symptoms, we recommend scheduling an airway evaluation to assess your child’s breathing and facial development.
Can airway orthodontics help with sleep apnea?
While we cannot diagnose or cure sleep apnea, airway orthodontics can address structural factors that may contribute to sleep-disordered breathing. By expanding the upper jaw, advancing the lower jaw, or creating more space for the tongue, we can potentially improve airway function. For children, early intervention can help prevent the development of sleep apnea later in life. Adults with existing sleep apnea may benefit from airway orthodontics as part of a comprehensive treatment plan coordinated with sleep physicians and ENT specialists.
How long does airway orthodontic treatment take?
Treatment duration varies depending on the patient’s age, severity of the airway issue, and specific treatments needed. For children, Phase I treatment (growth guidance) typically takes 12-18 months, often followed by Phase II treatment in the teen years for final tooth alignment. Early treatment during childhood is usually more efficient and stable because we can work with natural growth patterns. Adult treatment may take 18-36 months depending on the complexity of the case.
Is airway orthodontics covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by insurance plan. We work with numerous dental insurance plans and have a team with extensive experience helping patients understand their coverage options. Many dental insurance plans cover orthodontic treatment, which may include airway-focused approaches. Some medical insurance plans may provide coverage when deemed medically necessary. We’ll work with you to understand your specific coverage and can provide documentation to support claims when appropriate. For those without insurance or with limited coverage, we also offer Care Credit financing and in-house payment plans to make treatment accessible.
What's the difference between airway orthodontics and regular braces?
Regular braces focus primarily on straightening teeth and correcting bite issues. Airway orthodontics takes a more comprehensive approach by also considering airway function, facial development, and breathing patterns. While both may use similar appliances like braces or expanders, airway orthodontics emphasizes creating adequate space for proper tongue posture and unobstructed breathing. This approach often requires interdisciplinary care with other specialists and focuses on long-term health benefits beyond just straight teeth.
