Airway Treatment

Orthodontic treatment designed for overall health

Your mouth is a window into your overall health, and very often, issues with our airway and sleep can be detected in an orthodontic examination. Recent advancements in technology and research have allowed dentists to understand the role that issues with the way we breathe play in the development of facial and jaw growth. We also now know that airway issues often contribute to the development of common orthodontic problems such as:

  • crowding of teeth (at any age)

  • small or narrow jaws

  • crossbites (upper teeth fitting inside of lower teeth)

  • underbites (lower jaw in front of upper jaw)

  • reduced overall jaw growth

Seeing these common orthodontic issues often indicates that an airway issue may be at the heart of the problem. If you or your child have been told you have the following airway-related conditions, they may be connected to your orthodontic issues:

  • enlarged tonsils or adenoids

  • nasal obstruction (or reduced ability to breathe through nose)

  • habitually breathing through the mouth

  • obstructive sleep apnea

  • daytime sleepiness

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Most importantly, these issues can often be detected early in life, before the underlying airway problems can progress into much larger health issues.

In Dr. Klingler’s hands, he feels it is so important to look beyond your teeth to find the cause of your orthodontic issues. At our office, we feel strongly that we can have a bigger impact on our patients lives and overall health, by designing your orthodontic treatment to improve not only your smile, but your airway. That is why we utilize the latest CBCT (3D x-ray) technology read and reviewed by a radiologist, to evaluate your upper airway anatomy prior to starting treatment. Dr. Klingler utilizes this information to design your custom treatment plan to address your airway as well as your teeth issues. We work together frequently with other sleep and airway-related specialists in an interdisciplinary approach to make sure you or your child are receiving the best outcomes.

At Northview Orthodontics, we feel that by evaluating and addressing your airway we can design your orthodontic treatment to not only create a beautiful smile, but a healthier you!