Airway-focused orthodontics are designed to help patients breathe better, sleep soundly, and live healthier. Whether it’s a narrow jaw or upper palate causing issues such as restricted airflow and mild sleep apnea. In children, these appliances can help alleviate problems early and guide jaw development reducing more intrusive treatments later on and in adults, if your sleep apnea is attributed to a narrow or restricted airway it can possibly be an alternative to a CPAP machine. Improving sleep can have huge positive impacts on your everyday life!
Airway Orthodontics – More Than Just Straight Teeth
What Airway Orthodontics Can Treat
- Snoring
- Mild to moderate sleep apnea
- Mouth breathing at night
- Daytime fatigue from poor-quality sleep in children or adults
- In children specifically, difficulty breathing at night can also increase nighttime accidents or bedwetting.
How Airway Orthodontics Works
- Consultation and Imaging – Medical history including existing diagnosis, jaw structure and airway imaging to get a comprehensive idea of the causes of restricted airflow
- Treatment Planning – Options may include expanders, aligners, or specialized appliances.
- Appliance Therapy – Devices gently widen the palate or reposition the jaw to increase airway size.
- Monitoring and Adjustments – Progress is tracked to ensure improved breathing and comfort.
Unlike CPAP machines, which only manage symptoms, airway orthodontics addresses the root cause by creating more space for natural airflow.
Benefits of Airway-Focused Orthodontics
Mouth breathing at night also impacts overall oral health. We naturally produce less saliva at night, despite what the drool on our pillow says, and mouth breathing at night accelerates that. This can lead to dry mouth and halitosis or bad breath, accelerate tooth decay and invite bacteria to gather on the gums.
What to Expect During Treatment
- Depending on the treatment, appliances may be removable such as retainers or fixed including palate expanders.
- Like a muscle feeling sore after a workout, you may experience some mild pressure or ache during and right after adjustments.
- Depending on the severity, sleep quality improvement may become apparent over weeks or months.
- Treatment length depends on appliance type, age, and airway concerns
Got Questions?
FAQs
Can airway orthodontics replace CPAP?
This will depend on the cause and severity of the sleep apnea. For some patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, correcting a narrow airway through airway focused orthodontics may replace the need for a CPAP machine.
Is this treatment just for kids?
While early intervention in children can provide longer-lasting results and may reduce the need for additional treatment, airflow focused orthodontics can help adults as well.
Does it hurt?
Depending on the appliance used there may be some minimal discomfort after installation and some patients experience mild pressure or pain during and right after adjustments.
Lives Change Here
Book Your Airway-Focused Orthodontics Consultation
If you’re struggling with snoring, poor sleep, or CPAP discomfort, airway-focused orthodontics may offer a solution. Serving families across Riverside County, including Temecula and Hemet, Miles of Smiles offers effective, non-invasive treatment options to support healthier breathing and improved sleep.
Schedule your airway orthodontics consultation today and take the first step toward better sleep and improved health.
