Can Orthodontics Improve Airway Issues?

Long Beach, CA – Orthodontic treatment has many benefits for patients of all ages. These benefits can extend beyond just a beautifully straight smile and can address issues many patients may not realize can be corrected with orthodontic treatment. While patients may understand the connection between a straighter smile and better oral health, one lesser-known area is the connection between orthodontics and airway.

Common Airway Issues Orthodontics Can Address

The link between orthodontic treatment and airway health is an often overlooked one, but one that should be brought to light. Compromised airways are an issue for many reasons. Many patients may not realize how improper airway function can affect their daily lives, but compromised airways can lead to a variety of problems. These can include:

1. Mouth breathing, which can lead to gum disease, dry mouth, and other dental health issues.
2. Sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep.
3. Snoring, a common sign of an obstructed airway and a possible indication of sleep apnea in some patients.
4. Poor sleep quality, which can result in fatigue, brain fog, learning disabilities in children and other health issues.

How Orthodontic Treatment Improves Airway Health

For some patients, orthodontic treatment may be a first step in helping to correct airway issues. Orthodontic treatment corrects the alignment of the teeth, but it also can correct the position of the jaw, leading to modification of the oral cavity as well. Treatment can thereby improve some airway issues through different means, including:

1. Aligning the jaw properly to open the airway. For some patients, issues such as a receding lower jaw causes the tongue to be positioned further back in the mouth. While sleeping, the tongue can drop back and obstruct the airway, subsequently reducing airflow.
2. Expanding the palatal bones to increase the nasal airway. The palatal bones separate the mouth from the nasal passages, so narrow palates result in not only smaller mouths, but also a more constricted nasal airway. As a result, expanding the palate with orthodontic treatment can improve breathing.
3. Crowded mouths and misaligned teeth can negatively affect the airway space, so aligning the teeth properly may be able to provide more space for air to flow properly.

Orthodontic treatment under the care of a well-trained and board-certified orthodontist can help to address airflow problems while also improving the look and function of your smile. There is much planning that goes into orthodontic treatment, including considering how the tongue and jaw should rest properly to ensure no obstruction of the airway. The overall facial structure should be considered when planning for orthodontic treatment to ensure that not only will the patient finish treatment with a dazzling smile, but also have a properly functioning jaw and ideal airway.

For patients worried about airflow issues, the orthodontist will work in conjunction with other specialists to ensure proper care is provided. It is important to work in collaboration with ENTs, sleep physicians, and other specialists who have the proper diagnostic tools to diagnose underlying issues. Sleep analyses, X-rays, 3D imaging, and clinical examinations can accurately diagnose problems so that the ideal treatment plan can be created.

Orthodontic Treatment Options for Airway Issues (Children and Adolescents)

Orthodontic treatment options include more than just braces and depend on the underlying issues present. Treatment also differs between adults and adolescents. Since adult jaws are no longer growing, skeletal changes oftentimes require surgery. Some common treatment modalities for growing patients (children and adolescents) include:

1. Mandibular advancement devices, such as the MARA and Herbst appliance, are used to advance the lower jaw and stimulate mandibular growth. By enabling forward growth of the mandible, the tongue is also brought forward, thereby opening the airway.
2. Palatal expanders widen the upper jaw by splitting the suture between the two palatal bones. These work best before the palatal suture fuses, which on average is 90% developed by age 10. Expansion improves breathing through the nose and also provides more space in the oral cavity for the permanent teeth to erupt into place.
3. Braces and aligners can improve tooth and jaw alignment and create wider archforms, thereby improving the airway

Orthodontic Treatment Options for Airway Issues (Adults)

For adult patients, common jaw surgeries that are used to correct jaw position and enlarge the airway include:

• Mandibular advancement surgery, also known as bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO), is used for receded lower jaws.
• Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) is the recommended surgery to expand the palate and enlarge the nasal airway.

Airway issues can have a significant impact on your everyday life and health. By working together with specialists, your orthodontist can create a treatment plan that can addresses these issues while also improving your smile and airway health. If you are wondering how orthodontics may be able to improve your life, call HD Orthodontics at 562-283-6590.