Airway Orthodontics | Synergy Dental Center

Airway Orthodontics:
 Reshaping Perspectives on Health

Understanding America's Airway Crisis

In his book AIM, Dr. Porter explains how traditional orthodontics, primarily focused on straightening teeth, often overlooks the critical aspect of airway health. Conventional orthodontic approaches can pull the front teeth backward, inadvertently narrowing the airway and leading to problems such as habitual mouth breathing and snoring—both clear indicators of potential airway compromises.

Challenges in Conventional Dentistry

AIM also expands on the common misconception that sleep apnea and other sleep-related disorders only affect certain demographics. Dr. Porter writes that these issues can impact anyone, including healthy, highly active individuals and importantly, children, who often suffer silently as their symptoms go unnoticed.

Early Intervention: Key to Lifelong Health for Kids

THE EARLIER THE BETTER – TREATMENT CAN START AS EARLY AS AGE 3!

Early intervention is crucial to prevent children from developing more severe complications related to airway restrictions. Recognizing signs such as mouth breathing, snoring, and crowded teeth early can lead to timely interventions that can significantly reduce long-term health risks for children.

Comprehensive Airway Orthodontic Treatments

Our approach integrates various treatments tailored to each patient’s unique needs, which encourage proper tongue positioning and nasal breathing, promoting optimal airway health.

Interceptive Orthodontics – Orthotropics®: Targets favorable jaw development.

Crozat Appliance: Allows natural tooth movement and jaw expansion.

ALF Appliance: Focuses on improving bite and airway development concurrently.

Start Thriving Appliance: Enhances airway openness in conjunction with orthodontic correction.

Invisalign®: Offers a less invasive method to correct dental alignment while considering airway implications.

Adults: Orthodontics & Airway Management

IDENTIFYING AIRWAY SYMPTOMS IN ADULTS

Adults with airway problems may experience chronic snoring, daytime sleepiness, or difficulty breathing at night. These symptoms necessitate comprehensive evaluations to manage and treat underlying airway issues effectively.

Palatal Expansion: Often the first stage in adult orthodontics for those with compromised airways, this technique helps to widen the upper jaw, improving nasal breathing and serving as a foundational step before aligning teeth.

Re-opening Extraction Spaces: For adults previously treated with tooth extractions, techniques are employed to reopen these spaces, alleviating the constriction of the dental arch and improving airway flow.

Reversing Previous Orthodontic Results: We also address negative outcomes from past orthodontic treatments that may have contributed to airway restrictions, using targeted interventions to correct and optimize the structural alignment for better airway function.

By integrating traditional orthodontic techniques with a deep understanding of airway health, Dr. Porter ensures that every patient receives care that supports airway health. This holistic approach creates solutions that cater to the overall wellness of both children and adults, with a strong emphasis on early detection and intervention for lifelong benefits.

Airway Orthodontics: Reshaping Perspectives on Health