Airway Orthodontics

Airway Orthodontics: Improving Breathing for Better Health

At Knecht Orthodontics, we understand that a healthy smile goes beyond straight teeth — it includes optimal function and well-being. Airway orthodontics is a specialized approach to orthodontic treatment that focuses on improving the structure of the airway to promote better breathing. By addressing airway issues, especially in children and adolescents, we can help support healthy growth and overall quality of life.

What is Airway Orthodontics?

Airway orthodontics involves assessing and, if necessary, treating issues related to the airway and breathing patterns. Many factors, such as jaw alignment, the position of the tongue, and the size of the oral and nasal passages, can influence how well a person breathes. In some cases, a restricted airway can lead to issues like mouth breathing, snoring, poor sleep quality, or even sleep apnea.

Using advanced imaging, like CBCT scans, we can examine the airway and determine if there are structural concerns that may benefit from orthodontic intervention. Treatment often involves expanding the upper jaw, realigning the jaw structure, or correcting tongue posture to improve airflow and support healthy breathing.

Benefits of Airway Orthodontics

• Enhanced Breathing — Improving airway structure helps patients breathe more freely, which is essential for overall health and comfort.
• Better Sleep Quality — A clear airway supports restful sleep, reducing the risk of sleep-disordered breathing issues, such as snoring and sleep apnea, that can lead to daytime fatigue and other health concerns.
• Support for Growth and Development — For children and adolescents, proper airway development supports healthy facial growth, improves posture, and encourages natural, nasal breathing, which is beneficial for dental and general health.
• Improved Quality of Life — With better breathing, patients often experience increased energy levels, improved concentration, and even better athletic performance.

Our approach to airway orthodontics is fully integrated into our diagnostic process, allowing us to consider your or your child’s airway health as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Whether it involves expanding the palate, aligning the jaws, or guiding the growth of young patients, we’re here to ensure that each patient enjoys the full benefits of optimal breathing and a healthy smile. At Knecht Orthodontics, airway orthodontics reflects our commitment to improving not only your smile but your overall health and quality of life.

Early Treatment

At Knecht Orthodontics, we believe that early orthodontic treatment can be essential for children with developing airway or alignment issues. By beginning treatment at a young age, we can address potential problems early on, guiding the growth of the jaws and supporting a clear, healthy airway. This approach sets children up for better dental health and overall well-being as they grow.

What is Early Orthodontic Treatment?

Early orthodontic treatment, also known as Phase One treatment, typically begins around age seven when a child’s jaw is still growing. At this age, certain developmental issues, such as a narrow upper jaw, improper bite, or mouth breathing, become easier to identify and address. Early treatment can involve devices like expanders, partial braces, or appliances to create more space for the developing teeth and improve jaw alignment.

The Importance of Airway Health in Early Treatment

Airway health is a vital aspect of early orthodontic care. Some children experience restricted breathing due to jaw alignment, a small palate, or other structural issues. This can lead to mouth breathing, snoring, poor sleep, and even behavioral concerns like hyperactivity or poor focus, which may be associated with inadequate oxygen intake during sleep. Early orthodontic intervention allows us to expand and guide the growth of the upper jaw, which can open the airway, promoting better nasal breathing and more restful sleep.

Benefits of Early Treatment with an Airway Focus

• Improved Breathing Patterns — By expanding the upper jaw and aligning the bite, we can help open the airway, supporting nasal breathing and improving oxygen flow.
• Better Sleep Quality — Airway-focused treatment reduces the risk of sleep-disordered breathing, helping children experience deeper, more restful sleep, which is critical for their physical and cognitive development.
• Enhanced Facial Development — Guiding jaw growth and alignment not only benefits the airway but also promotes balanced facial development, setting a foundation for a well-aligned, aesthetically pleasing smile.
• Prevention of Future Issues — Early treatment often helps prevent the need for more complex orthodontic procedures later on, as it corrects structural issues before they become more pronounced.

At Knecht Orthodontics, we take a comprehensive approach to early orthodontic treatment, incorporating airway assessments into our diagnosis and treatment planning. Our goal is to create the best possible environment for healthy growth and development, ensuring that your child’s smile, airway, and overall health are all supported. Through early intervention and airway-focused orthodontics, we help children breathe better, sleep better, and enjoy a brighter, healthier future.

Expanders

Expanders are one of the most effective orthodontic tools for addressing both jaw development and airway function. At Knecht Orthodontics, we use expanders to gently widen the upper jaw, creating more space for the developing teeth and helping to open the airway. This treatment is especially beneficial for children whose jaws are still growing, as it allows us to guide their development and address issues early on.

An expander is a custom-fitted orthodontic appliance placed on the upper jaw. It applies gentle, consistent pressure to gradually widen the palate, or roof of the mouth, over time. By expanding the palate, we create more space for teeth and encourage proper alignment, reducing crowding and bite issues. Treatment with an expander is typically completed over a few months, allowing the upper jaw to expand gradually and comfortably.

Benefits of Expanders for Airway Function

• Enhanced Nasal Breathing — Expanding the upper jaw also widens the nasal passages, which can help improve airflow and support healthy nasal breathing, reducing the need for mouth breathing and encouraging better oxygen intake.
• Reduced Sleep-Related Issues — By creating more space in the airway, expanders can alleviate some sleep-disordered breathing issues, such as snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea, helping children experience deeper, more restful sleep.
• Improved Facial Development — When used in young patients, expanders support balanced facial growth, creating a broader, well-proportioned jaw structure. This early intervention also benefits the airway and aligns the bite properly.
• Prevention of Future Problems — Expanding the upper jaw early on can reduce the need for more intensive orthodontic treatments in the future, addressing alignment, bite, and airway issues proactively.

At Knecht Orthodontics, we use expanders as part of a comprehensive approach to early orthodontic care, especially when there are concerns about the airway or jaw alignment. By creating more space and opening the airway, we help children breathe easier, sleep better, and develop healthier smiles. Expanders are just one of the ways we ensure our patients’ growth and health are fully supported, setting the foundation for a lifetime of benefits.

Jaw Surgery

In some cases, orthodontic treatment alone is not enough to address complex jaw and airway issues. At Knecht Orthodontics, we collaborate with skilled oral and maxillofacial surgeons to provide jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) as an option for patients who require significant adjustments to their jaw structure. This surgical approach, when combined with airway-focused orthodontics, can be transformative, correcting functional and aesthetic issues while enhancing airway health and breathing quality.

Jaw surgery involves repositioning the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both to correct alignment, bite discrepancies, and other structural issues that affect both appearance and function. It’s typically recommended when patients have severe bite problems, jaw misalignment, or airway obstruction that cannot be fully resolved with braces, expanders, or other non-surgical methods.

This surgery can be life-changing for patients with obstructed airways, as it repositions the jaw to create more space in the oral and nasal passages, significantly improving airflow. It’s often recommended in cases where a narrow or recessed jaw contributes to restricted breathing or conditions like obstructive sleep apnea.

How Jaw Surgery Works with Airway Orthodontics

Prior to jaw surgery, orthodontic treatment is used to prepare the teeth and align them for their new position after surgery. This pre-surgical phase, known as pre-surgical orthodontics, typically involves braces or other appliances to move the teeth into the correct position. After the surgery, additional orthodontic adjustments are made to ensure that the teeth and jaws settle properly, resulting in a balanced bite and improved airway function.

When jaw surgery and airway orthodontics are combined, patients experience several important benefits. First, the expanded airway allows for easier nasal breathing and a decrease in sleep-disordered breathing issues. Patients who suffer from sleep apnea or snoring often find substantial relief, leading to improved sleep quality and overall health. Additionally, realigning the jaw promotes balanced facial proportions, creating a more harmonious profile and enhancing the patient’s appearance.

The Benefits of a Collaborative Approach at Knecht Orthodontics

At Knecht Orthodontics, we work closely with oral surgeons to ensure a seamless experience for patients who require jaw surgery alongside their orthodontic treatment. This collaborative approach allows us to address both functional and airway-related concerns comprehensively, offering patients not only an aligned, beautiful smile but also significant improvements in breathing, sleep quality, and overall well-being.

By combining jaw surgery with airway-focused orthodontics, we create a lasting impact on our patients’ quality of life, providing both aesthetic and health-related benefits. For those with complex needs, this approach ensures the best possible outcome, supporting their smiles and their overall health.