How is Airway Orthodontics Different Than Conventional Orthodontics?

Airway orthodontics is not just about straight teeth—it’s about helping children and adults breathe, sleep, and live better. At TMJ Sleep and Breathe Center, under the direction of Dr. Gary Adams, we take a holistic, whole-body approach to orthodontics that prioritizes one of the most fundamental pillars of health: the airway.

 

If you’ve ever wondered, “What is airway orthodontics?”—you’re not alone. It’s a question we hear every day from parents and adult patients alike. In this blog post, we’ll break down what airway orthodontics is, who it helps, and why our practice has become a trusted destination for patients from across the country seeking solutions for breathing and bite-related health concerns.

What Is Airway Orthodontics?

Airway orthodontics is a branch of orthodontics that focuses on the size, shape, and function of the airway—particularly how jaw structure, tongue posture, and oral muscle function influence breathing. While traditional orthodontics centers on the alignment of teeth, airway orthodontics addresses the underlying structural and functional problems that contribute to:

• Mouth breathing
• Snoring and sleep apnea
• Forward head posture
• TMJ dysfunction
• Poor sleep quality
• Behavioral issues in children

At its core, airway orthodontics is about creating more space—in the mouth, in the nasal passages, and in the throat—so the body can function the way it was meant to: with the tongue resting gently on the palate, lips sealed, and breathing occurring silently and efficiently through the nose.

Why Is the Airway Important in Orthodontics?

Breathing isn’t optional—it’s vital. The way we breathe shapes how our face grows, how we sleep, and how we feel during the day. When a child breathes through their mouth instead of their nose, especially at night, it often signals that something is wrong with their airway.

Chronic mouth breathing and poor tongue posture can cause:

• Narrow palates
• Recessed jaws and chins
• Elongated faces
• Crowded or crooked teeth
• Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
• Increased risk of sleep-disordered breathing and ADHD-like behavior

This cycle begins early in life and continues into adulthood if left unaddressed. That’s why early intervention matters—but adult treatment is also possible and often life-changing.

Common Symptoms Airway Orthodontics Can Address

In Children:

• Mouth breathing (especially at night)
• Snoring, gasping, or teeth grinding during sleep
• Frequent ear infections or enlarged tonsils/adenoids
• Crowded teeth, narrow arches
• Dark circles under the eyes (“allergic shiners”)
• Hyperactivity, poor focus, bedwetting

In Adults:

• TMJ pain or jaw clicking
• Sleep apnea or snoring
• Daytime fatigue
• Teeth clenching and grinding
• Facial tension or forward head posture
• Anxiety or brain fog from poor sleep quality

 

 

Our Holistic Approach to Airway Orthodontics

At TMJ Sleep and Breathe Center, airway orthodontics is not just a procedure—it’s a philosophy. We treat each patient as a whole person, not a set of teeth or symptoms. Here’s what makes our approach unique:

1. Biological or Slow Palatal Expansion

Unlike rapid palatal expansion (RPE), our Slow Palatal Expansion (SPE) protocol gently and gradually expands the upper jaw over time. This slow method respects cranial development and minimizes side effects like pain, asymmetry, or excessive diastemas (spaces between teeth). We have many different kinds of expanders and treatment modalities for adults and children.

Airway orthodontics is key to creating enough room for the tongue to rest on the palate—one of the most critical steps in restoring proper nasal breathing and resolving airway obstruction.

2. Clear Aligner Integration (Invisalign)

We often combine clear aligner therapy or clear braces, such as Invisalign, to:

• Guide teeth into healthier, more stable positions
• Maintain aesthetics during treatment
• Prevent or correct bite issues without bulky metal braces
• Close or prevent spaces as the jaw expands

This dual approach maximizes efficiency and delivers both functional and cosmetic results. Look at it as we get the mouth and jaw to be the right size and shape first. And then guide the teeth into a proper bite. Sometimes teeth movements are not necessary and expansion is all that is needed.

Our most popular treatments for kids include:

1. Schwarz Expander
2. Myobrace
3. ALF Appliance
4. Lip and Tongue Tie Releases

Our most popular treatment for adults include:

1. MARPE combined with clear braces/Invisalign
2. Homeoblock and Vivos appliances

 

3. Tongue, Lip, and Buccal Tie Releases

Structural restrictions like tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) can prevent the tongue from resting on the roof of the mouth. This leads to mouth breathing, poor swallowing patterns, and airway collapse during sleep.

We use the LightScalpel CO2 laser to gently release:

• Tongue ties
• Lip ties
• Buccal ties

These procedures are minimally invasive and offer quick recovery—especially when paired with therapy.

4. Myofunctional Therapy

Myofunctional therapy is the “muscle retraining” component of airway orthodontics. Our team collaborates with myofunctional therapists to help patients:

• Retrain their tongue to rest on the palate
• Seal their lips at rest
• Breathe through the nose
• Swallow properly without facial tension

This therapy is essential for reinforcing structural corrections and promoting long-term success.

5. TMJ and Bite Correction

We address TMJ dysfunction by improving the way the teeth come together (the bite) and how the jaw relates to the rest of the skull. Many TMJ issues are the result of narrow palates, retruded jaws, or clenching caused by airway obstruction.

Our comprehensive treatment helps:

• Reduce jaw pain and popping
• Relieve muscle tension and headaches
• Improve posture and balance

Why Patients from Across the U.S. Choose Us

Patients travel from all over the country to see Dr. Gary Adams and our team at TMJ Sleep and Breathe Center. Why? Because we go beyond the conventional orthodontic model.

We specialize in:

• Treating pediatric sleep apnea and mouth breathing without surgery
• Early intervention for developing jaws and facial structures
• Offering adult palatal expansion and bite correction options
• Avoiding CPAP and other mechanical airway devices
• Providing comprehensive, coordinated care with myofunctional therapists, ENTs, and other specialists

Our goal is to optimize airway health through safe, natural, and biologically appropriate treatments.

Airway Orthodontics vs. Traditional Orthodontics

Feature	Traditional Orthodontics	Airway Orthodontics (Our Approach)
Focus	Teeth alignment	Breathing, structure, function
Age of Intervention	Usually ages 12+	As early as age 4–6 (and adults!)
Appliance	Braces or aligners	Expanders, aligners, myofunctional  therapy
Root Cause Addressed?	No	Yes
Treats TMJ/Sleep Issues?	Rarely	Always considered

Is Airway Orthodontics Right for You or Your Child?

If you or your child struggle with sleep, jaw tension, clenching, mouth breathing, or bite problems, airway orthodontics could be the answer. Our treatment is safe, effective, and customized to your specific anatomy and symptoms.

The earlier we intervene, the more we can support proper growth. But even in adults, results can be life-changing.

Schedule Your Consultation

Ready to find the root cause of your breathing, sleep, or jaw issues? We’re here to help.

Book a consultation at TMJ Sleep and Breathe Center today and take the first step toward improved breathing, better sleep, and a more balanced, beautiful smile.