At Premiere Orthodontics, we believe orthodontic treatment is about more than straight teeth. A healthy smile starts with healthy breathing.
Our airway-focused orthodontic treatment considers how the teeth, jaws, tongue, and airway work together to support proper breathing, quality sleep, healthy development, and long-term wellness.
By identifying and addressing airway concerns early, we can help children and adults achieve better function, improved health, and beautiful smiles.
With orthodontic offices in Waterford Lakes and Winter Springs, Dr. Battle and our team work closely with trusted healthcare providers, including ENT specialists, sleep physicians, pediatricians, and myofunctional therapists, to deliver comprehensive care when needed.
Airway orthodontics is an advanced approach to orthodontic care that evaluates not only the alignment of the teeth but also the size, shape, and function of the airway and jaws.
A narrow upper jaw, improper tongue posture, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and jaw development issues can all contribute to breathing difficulties, sleep-disordered breathing, and other health concerns.
By addressing these underlying structural issues, airway-focused orthodontic treatment can help improve:
Our goal is to help patients breathe comfortably through their nose during both the day and night while supporting healthy orthodontic development.
Many airway issues can go unnoticed for years. If you or your child experiences any of the following symptoms, an airway evaluation may be beneficial:
In Children
In Adults
Because airway issues and orthodontic concerns are often closely connected, evaluating both together allows us to create more effective, long-term solutions.
At Premiere Orthodontics, we take a team-based approach to airway health.
Depending on your needs, we may collaborate with:
This collaborative approach helps us:
For more complex cases, sleep studies or additional medical evaluations may be recommended to provide a complete understanding of your airway health.
Airway orthodontic treatment begins with a comprehensive examination that may include:
Rather than simply straightening teeth, we focus on identifying the root causes of airway restrictions and developing a treatment plan designed to improve breathing, sleep, and function.
Every patient is unique, which is why treatment recommendations are customized based on age, growth stage, and airway needs.
For children whose jaws are still developing, a Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE) can gently widen the upper jaw to create more space for proper tooth eruption and improve airflow through the nasal passages.
Benefits of expansion may include:
This is one reason the American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic evaluation by age 7.
As patients get older, the upper jaw becomes more difficult to expand using traditional methods.
For older teens and adults, advanced expansion techniques such as: MARPE (Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) or MSE (Maxillary Skeletal Expansion) may be used to increase airway volume and improve breathing.
Potential benefits include:
Myofunctional therapy focuses on retraining the muscles of the tongue, lips, cheeks, and face to support proper breathing and oral function.
This therapy can help:
Myofunctional therapy is often especially beneficial for children but can also help adult patients.
Orthodontic treatment plays an important role in airway-focused care.
Whether braces, Invisalign®, or Solventum™ aligners are recommended, treatment is carefully planned with both airway health and smile aesthetics in mind.
By properly aligning the teeth and jaws, orthodontic treatment can support improved function, bite balance, and long-term oral health.
In some cases, additional treatment may be recommended as part of a comprehensive airway plan.
This may include:
When necessary, we coordinate closely with medical specialists to ensure the best possible outcome.
Through a combination of expansion, orthodontic treatment, myofunctional therapy, and collaboration with healthcare providers, many adults achieve:
It’s never too late to address airway concerns and invest in your health.
At Premiere Orthodontics, we take a comprehensive approach to care that goes beyond creating beautiful smiles.
We evaluate:
By looking at the complete picture, we can identify issues that may impact both oral health and overall wellness.
Our goal is simple: help our patients breathe better, sleep better, and live healthier lives.
If you suspect that airway concerns may be affecting your child’s growth, sleep, behavior, or overall health, or if you’re an adult struggling with breathing or sleep-related issues, Premiere Orthodontics can help.
Schedule a complimentary consultation at our Orlando or Winter Springs orthodontic office today and learn how airway-focused orthodontics may improve your health, comfort, and smile for years to come!