AIRWAY ORTHODONTIC TREATMENTS

Did you know your airway passage is directly associated with your specific orthodontic condition and unique dental structure? Your quality of breathing, quality of sleep, technique for breathing and even your ability to concentrate on daily tasks are all linked to the condition of your airway.

When a person’s airway is constricted or blocked, and they experience difficulty breathing, this may be indicative of a disorder. Both children and adults suffer from airway disorders. A restricted airway will cause a person to suffer from strained breathing, troubled sleeping, mouth breathing and sleep apnea disorders.

Airway orthodontic techniques can improve a person’s breathing by expanding their airway and allowing an increased amount of oxygen to pass through. Identifying and treating an airway restriction early in a person’s life will help to avoid the need for jaw surgery, improve the quality of one’s life, and decrease the severity of airway disorder symptoms.

Dr. King has been practicing orthodontic treatments to treat airway disorders for more than 30 years, before the term “Airway Orthodontics” was even coined.

Symptoms of Airway Disorders:

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may have an airway disorder that requires a professional orthodontist’s attention.

  • Poor sleep
  • Snoring or loud breathing during sleep
  • Attention Deficit
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty concentrating and performing poorly due to poor sleep and/or lack of oxygen
  • Bed wetting
  • Mouth breathing

Who is at risk of a strained airway?

Several factors can determine whether a person is at risk for developing an airway disorder.

  • Overweight/obese
  • Genetics
  • Age
  • Jaw structure (Narrow jaws and/or recessive jaws)
  • Nasal Cavity structure
  • Sinus

What can airway orthodontic techniques do to help?

Airway orthodontic techniques effectively reduce obstructions and blockages in the nasal cavity and pharynx. Orthodontic techniques that enlarge the oral and nasal cavity and bring the lower jaw forward are usually suggested to relieve a person’s airway.

The CPAP device, abbreviated for ‘continuous positive airway pressure’ device, does exactly as it stands for. Increasing the air pressure in the throat, expanding the airway and allowing enough air to pass through, this device prevents the airway from further restriction and promotes regular breathing. The CPAP device will be worn as your orthodontist deems necessary (typically during sleep), depending on your specific condition and symptoms.

Customized oral appliances, such as orthodontic retainers and palatal expanders, are available to expand and widen the roof of the mouth. We offer various treatment appliances, effective for realigning the jaw and preventing the tongue from obstructing the airway, as this is often the fundamental cause of a restricted airway.

Depending on the underlying cause behind your airway disorder, we may suggest a form of braces such as traditional braces or Invisalign® clear aligners. An efficient and convenient measure for widening the airway and promoting air passage, braces can expand the roof of the mouth and correct associated obstructions.
At Jupiter Orthodontics, our goal is to help improve your quality of life, which begins with your ability to breathe freely. If you recognize any of these challenging symptoms or want to hear more, give us a call or request an appointment today at our Jupiter location.