Airway Orthodontics in Tucson, Oro Valley & Sierra Vista

Understanding Airway Orthodontics

Parents are often surprised when we ask about their child’s breathing during their first visit. However, scientists are learning more and more the effect that breathing issues can have on your child’s dental and facial development. This is a growing area of research, and unfortunately often goes overlooked and unnoticed by other orthodontists, pediatricians, pediatric dentists and other healthcare providers.

Have you ever wondered about the root cause is of tooth crowding? If you look back at human skulls from thousands of years ago, virtually everyone had wide, developed jaws and perfectly straight teeth. If everyone used to have perfectly straight teeth, what is causing the epidemic of tooth crowding in modern society? Orthodontists used to think tooth crowding was just genetics causing big teeth and small jaws, but now we know that airway and breathing problems are the root cause of a significant amount of tooth crowding. Current research is showing that pediatric airway problems are becoming more prevalent, especially in mountainous areas like Southern Arizona where the mountains can trap harmful air pollution in valleys for extended periods, leading to allergies, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and poor nasal breathing.

Healthy Breathing vs. Unhealthy Breathing and the Effect on Orthodontics

At rest, someone with a healthy airway should always breathe through their nose, with their mouth closed and their tongue resting firmly on their palate between their molars. This tongue position may seem trivial, but over many years as the child grows, it is this pressure from the tongue resting on the palate that causes the jaws to grow wider to accommodate the erupting adult teeth. When children are unable to breathe easily through their nose and are forced to mouth breathe during the day or during sleep, the tongue rests at the bottom of the mouth instead of on the palate, eliminating that outward tongue pressure that encourages jaw development. Over time, this leads to an imbalance, with the cheeks resting on the teeth causing the jaws to narrow and crowd up over time as there is no tongue pressure pushing back. This is how children who mouth breathe will end up with crowded teeth and narrow, underdeveloped jaws.

At Braces520, Dr. Rosen and Dr. Decker take the cutting edge of airway science into account to design orthodontic treatment plans that:

• Widen Dental Arches to Improve Tongue Space and Alleviate Crowding
• Orthopedically Expand the Maxilla (Upper Jaw)
• Enhance Nasal Breathing via Expansion
• Intervene Early to Promote Optimal Jaw Growth and Development
• Avoid Permanent Tooth Extractions for Crowding
• Encourage Mandibular (Lower Jaw) Forward Growth
• Encourage Proper Tongue Posture

The research is clear: by identifying and treating these concerns early, we set the foundation for improved overall health and well-being in your child- not only in the short term but 40 years down the line. At Braces520, you can trust that if your child is having airway problems – our team is experienced and passionate about diagnosing and treating the root of the issue, instead of just putting a bandage on the symptoms.

How Can I Identify Airway Problems In My Child?

Common signs of Pediatric airway-related issues include:

• Mouth breathing- during the day or at night
• Snoring or loud breathing– NO amount of snoring for a child is normal!
• Restless sleep– Lots of tossing and turning, sleeping in unusual positions, moves around excessively at night, gets very sweaty when sleeping, drools excessively, restless legs, rarely goes into a deep sleep
• Teeth grinding
• Daytime fatigue
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Behavioral issues: Irritability, aggression, difficulty listening, frustration, and anxiety can all be symptoms.
• Frequent bedwetting
• Sleepwalking or Sleep talking
• ADHD/Hyperactivity during the day
• Frequent allergies, frequent colds, or frequent ear and sinus infections
• Crowded or misaligned teeth
• Narrow jaws
• Frequent night terrors
• Slow growth
• Other cognitive delays or learning delays
• Hard to wake up in the morning
• Needs more frequent naps
• Morning headache
• Poor appetite

Addressing these symptoms through airway orthodontics can lead to:

• Improved sleep quality
• Enhanced concentration and behavior
• Improved growth and performance in school
• Proper facial and dental development
• Reduced risk of long-term health issues

As a child grows, these issues become more and more difficult to correct, so early intervention is key. Once the child is done growing, these issues are nearly impossible to correct without doing invasive jaw surgery.

See our pages on Pediatric Airway Problems and Pediatric Expansion for more information.

Can Late Teens and Adults Benefit from Airway Orthodontics?

Yes, absolutely! Although the treatment once a patient is done growing is more difficult than when done at a young age, there are still treatment options that can help. See our pages on Adult Airway Problems, Maxillary Skeletal Expansion (MSE), and Surgical Orthodontics for more information about how we treat adult airway problems.

Our Comprehensive Airway-Centric Approach

At Braces520, our airway-focused treatment plans are tailored to each individual’s needs:

1. Comprehensive Orthodontic and Airway Assessment

We begin with a thorough evaluation, including:

• Pictures and x-rays to evaluate tooth position, jaw growth and development and airway size and function
• Evaluation of tongue posture and function
• Evaluation of airway signs and symptoms
• Evaluation of jaw width and development in relationship to tongue space

2. Palatal Expansion Techniques

Utilizing devices like Rapid Palatal Expanders (RPE) and Microimplant-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expanders (MARPE), we widen the upper jaw to:

• Increase nasal airway volume
• Create space for proper tongue placement
• Create space to alleviate crowding without extraction of teeth
• Facilitate better breathing patterns

3. Myofunctional Therapy Integration

In partnership with certified myofunctional therapists, we address:

• Tongue thrust and improper swallowing patterns
• Low tongue posture
• Mouth breathing habits

These exercises can retrain oral muscles to support optimal breathing and jaw development.

4. Non-Extraction Orthodontics

Prioritizing facial harmony and airway space, we focus on avoiding unnecessary tooth extractions whenever possible. Instead, we:

• Focus on guiding and maximizing natural jaw growth
• Utilize appliances that support airway development
• Integrate with myofunctional therapists to improve tongue and orofacial muscle function for lasting improvement

Early Intervention for Lasting Benefits

Early detection and treatment are crucial. We always recommend getting children in for their first orthodontic exam at age 7. Every year that the child grows further, the underlying issues become more difficult to correct. By addressing airway issues during childhood, we can:

• Prevent the development of more severe problems
• Guide proper facial and dental growth
• Enhance overall quality of life from a young age

Why Choose Braces520?

• Exclusive Expertise: We are proud to be the primary airway orthodontic practice in Tucson, Oro Valley, and Sierra Vista and the only orthodontists affiliated with the Tucson Airway Providers Study Club.
• Holistic Approach: Integrating airway health into every orthodontic treatment plan.
• Collaborative Care: Working closely with myofunctional therapists, ENT specialists, pediatricians, and pediatric dentists.
• State-of-the-Art Technology: Utilizing the latest in treatment techniques and cutting-edge research to ensure our orthodontic treatment is on the forefront of airway orthodontic understanding.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Take the first step towards better breathing and overall health. Contact Braces520 today to schedule your complimentary airway orthodontics consultation at our Tucson, Oro Valley, or Sierra Vista locations, or schedule an consultation completely online using this link.