What Is Airway Orthodontics?
Airway orthodontics is a specialized branch of orthodontics that focuses on improving breathing and airway function while also addressing tooth alignment and jaw development. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of the mouth, jaw, and airway, and how these structures impact overall health and well-being. By addressing airway issues during orthodontic treatment, practitioners aim to not only improve dental aesthetics but also enhance breathing, sleep quality, and general health.
How Does Airway Orthodontics Work?
Airway orthodontics involves a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s dental structure, jaw development, and airway function. This assessment may include 3D imaging, such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), to visualize the airway and identify any obstructions or abnormalities. Based on this evaluation, the orthodontist develops a customized treatment plan that may include a combination of techniques, such as:
- Palatal expansion: This involves widening the upper jaw to create more space for the tongue and improve nasal breathing.
- Mandibular advancement: Repositioning the lower jaw forward can help open the airway and reduce the risk of obstruction during sleep.
- Myofunctional therapy: This therapy employs exercises and techniques to strengthen and retrain the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and face in order to improve breathing and swallowing patterns.
- Orthodontic appliances: Specialized devices, such as the Herbst appliance or the Biobloc appliance, can be used to guide jaw growth and encourage proper tongue positioning.
Which Health Conditions Can Airway Orthodontics Help With?
Airway orthodontics can be beneficial for a wide range of health conditions related to breathing and sleep, including:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): By improving jaw development and airway function, airway orthodontics can reduce the severity of OSA and alleviate associated symptoms, such as snoring, daytime fatigue, and cognitive impairment.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Studies have shown that children with untreated sleep-disordered breathing are more likely to exhibit symptoms of ADHD (see Sources & References, below). Addressing airway issues through orthodontic treatment may improve focus, behavior, and overall cognitive function.
- TemporoMandibular joint Disorders (TMD): Proper jaw alignment and function can help alleviate pain and discomfort associated with TMD, as well as improve breathing and sleep quality.
- Chronic mouth breathing: Airway orthodontics can help promote nasal breathing, which is essential for proper craniofacial development, dental health, and overall well-being.
Research Supporting the Use of Airway Orthodontics
A growing body of research supports the effectiveness of airway orthodontics in improving breathing, sleep, and related health outcomes. For example:
- A systematic review published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics found that rapid maxillary expansion, a common technique in airway orthodontics, can significantly improve nasal airway dimensions and reduce the severity of OSA in children.
- A study in the journal Sleep and Breathing demonstrated that mandibular advancement devices, often used in airway orthodontics, can effectively treat OSA in adults, reducing the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and improving sleep quality.
- Research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine showed that myofunctional therapy, a component of airway orthodontics, can significantly reduce the severity of OSA and improve sleep quality in both children and adults.
What to Expect from Airway Orthodontics
Patients undergoing airway orthodontics can expect a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treatment that addresses both dental alignment and airway function. The duration of treatment may vary depending on the individual’s needs and the specific techniques employed, but it typically ranges from several months to a few years.
Throughout the treatment process, patients may experience improvements in breathing, sleep quality, and overall health, in addition to the aesthetic benefits of a well-aligned smile. After completing treatment, ongoing maintenance and monitoring may be necessary to ensure long-term success and prevent relapse.
In conclusion, airway orthodontics represents a paradigm shift in the field of orthodontics, emphasizing the importance of optimal breathing and airway function for overall health and well-being. By addressing the root causes of various health conditions related to breathing and sleep, airway orthodontics offers a promising approach to improving quality of life for patients of all ages.
About Maria Rickert Hong CHHC
Maria Rickert Hong is a Co-Founder of, and the Education and Media Director for, Documenting Hope.
She is a former sell-side Wall Street equity research analyst who covered the oil services sector at Salomon Smith Barney and Lehman Brothers under Institutional Investor #1 ranked analysts.
Later, she covered the gaming, lodging & leisure sector at Jefferies & Co. and Calyon Securities. She quit working on Wall Street when her first son was born.
Prior to working on Wall Street, she was a marketing specialist for Halliburton in New Orleans, where she also received her MBA in Finance & Strategy from Tulane University.
She is the author of the bestselling book Almost Autism: Recovering Children from Sensory Processing Disorder and the co-author of Brain Under Attack: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis. She is a co-author of Reversal of Autism Symptoms among Dizygotic Twins through a Personalized Lifestyle and Environmental Modification Approach: A Case Report and Review of the Literature, J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(6), 641.
Maria is also a Certified Holistic Health Counselor. Her work can be found on DocumentingHope.com, Healing.DocumentingHope.com, Conference.DocumentingHope.com and MariaRickertHong.com
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Sources & References
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