Twin Cities Airway Focused Dentistry

Though we all want healthy, straight teeth, most of us experience inadequate orofacial development, resulting in orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD).

This is often due to environmental habits we practice as infants—such as bottle feeding and an early diet of soft foods—that alter our muscle tone, as well as the development of our face and teeth. In fact, when our upper jaw (e.g. maxilla) and lower jaw (e.g. mandible) do not reach their full potential, the end result can range from overcrowded teeth, V-shape lower arch formation, square box-shaped arches, or a combination of each.

In addition to crowded teeth, the position of the oral cavity will ultimately determine how resilient our airways are against airway obstructions that emerge during the aging process.

Is Airway Dentistry Right for You?

Schedule a consultation with our team to discover how airway dentistry can benefit you or your child.

Schedule Your Myofunctional Therapy Consultation Today!

The Difference Between Open and Constricted Airways

Airway obstructions are often the cause of asthma, seasonal allergies, and sleep apnea which, in recent years, has been linked to a host of associated diseases. This is especially true in children, as research continues to demonstrate that sleep-disorder breathing is associated with decreasing IQ scores over a period of time.

Nasal Breathing vs. Mouth Breathing

Because the roof of the mouth is the floor of the nose, the development of our upper and lower jaw plays a significant role in how our bodies inhale and deliver oxygen to vital organs, including the heart, lungs, and brain.

If the upper jaw is underdeveloped, the nasal cavity and nasopharynx will be abnormally smaller, thereby obstructing our airways (upper right image). And when our bodies have difficulting breathing in oxygen through our nose, the next plausible airway entrance is through the mouth.

In a study conducted by Dr. Sten Linder-Aronson, it was concluded that mouth breathing is linked to the following health risks:

Repeated upper respiratory infections
Increase in infections of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT)
Asthma
Allergies
Poor tongue position/function
Malocclusion (misalignment of teeth)

Myofunctional Orthodontics for Children’s Growth and Development

Many children today are mouth breathers and have some form of tongue dysfunction, which results in an underdeveloped jaw. And more than 75% of forward facial growth occurs before the age of 6. Therefore, early intervention is essential, as it allows us to diagnose an underdeveloped mouth and reestablish appropriate jaw dimensions, nasal breathing, and proper tongue position.

How Does Myofunctional Therapy Enhance Airway Focused Dentistry?

Airway Development: Form always follows function in the oral and nasal cavities during child development. The muscles of the mouth determine where the bones of the nose dental arches will extend to. Therefore, a strong tongue, with proper habits, will shape a more robust airway.

Nasal Breathing: The nose humidifies, warms, and filters the air we breath, and nasal breathing promotes proper facial development. One approach to better nasal breathing is the Buteyko breathing method, which has shown amazing success in alleviating symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, snoring, insomnia, sleep apnea, anxiety, and more. In short, changing how you breath can significantly change your health and life.

Airway Focused Dentistry at Dakota Dental

The orthodontic profession commits considerable attention to helping patients achieve better health, wellness, and a healthy smile, as does the team at Dakota Dental. Although every patient who visits our dental clinic is unique, our goals always remain the same:

Improve airway dimension and tone
Optimize the facial profile
Accelerate facial growth and development
Resolve improper tongue and muscle habits
Prevent or reduce jaw pain
Help patients achieve a smile they love

We also consider the effects our dental care treatments will have on each patient’s overall health and wellness.

We find that all permanent teeth are essential to proper facial development and tongue position—no premolar tooth extractions will ever be recommended.
In a growing patient, we will only use expansive approaches to align the teeth, jaws, as well as develop the profile and upper airway.
We offer guidance to train proper tongue and muscle habits to preserve or minimize re-crowding for the long-term.