Professional Resources
A curated clinical reference library for dental and medical professionals. Peer-reviewed research, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines supporting airway-focused interdisciplinary care.
Clinical Evidence Library
The following references represent foundational and current literature in airway health dentistry. Topics span craniofacial development, sleep disordered breathing, myofunctional therapy, skeletal expansion, and surgical airway management. We welcome collaboration with referring providers and are happy to discuss any of these topics in depth.
Craniofacial Development & Airway
Primate experiments on oral respiration
Harvold EP, Tomer BS, Vargervik K, Chierici G · American Journal of Orthodontics · 1981 · 79(4):359–372
Landmark primate study demonstrating that experimentally induced oral breathing produces measurable craniofacial changes including elongated faces, narrow arches, and altered tongue posture.
Airway adequacy, head posture, and craniofacial morphology
Solow B, Siersbaek-Nielsen S, Greve E · American Journal of Orthodontics · 1984 · 86(3):214–223
Demonstrates the relationship between reduced nasopharyngeal airway space, forward head posture, and craniofacial morphology — establishing the soft tissue stretching hypothesis.
Relationships between swallowing pattern, mode of respiration, and development of malocclusion
Melsen B, Attina L, Santuari M, Attina A · Angle Orthodontist · 1987 · 57(2):113–120
Establishes correlations between atypical swallowing, mouth breathing, and the development of Class II and open bite malocclusions.
Craniofacial phenotyping of pediatric sleep-disordered breathing: orthodontic management, timing, and treatment approaches
Kim KA, Jeong H, Kim SJ, Yoon A · Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry · 2026 · 50(1):1–10
Pediatric OSA management requires screening and imaging analysis to classify the phenotype, directing craniofacial cases to growth modification and non-craniofacial cases to medical or surgical specialists. Timely intervention across all three dimensions can guide skeletal and upper airway development, maximizing functional growth potential and ensuring long-term treatment success.
Sleep Disordered Breathing
The occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing among middle-aged adults
Young T, Palta M, Dempsey J, Skatrud J, Weber S, Badr S · New England Journal of Medicine · 1993 · 328(17):1230–1235
Seminal epidemiological study establishing the prevalence of sleep disordered breathing in the general adult population and its association with daytime sleepiness.
Diagnosis and management of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Marcus CL, Brooks LJ, Draper KA, et al. · Pediatrics · 2012 · 130(3):e714–e755
American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guideline for pediatric OSA diagnosis and management, including screening recommendations for primary care providers.
From oral facial dysfunction to dysmorphism and the onset of pediatric OSA
Guilleminault C, Huang YS · Sleep Medicine Reviews · 2018 · 40:203–214
Traces the developmental pathway from orofacial dysfunction in infancy to craniofacial dysmorphism and pediatric OSA, supporting early interdisciplinary intervention.
Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Camacho M, Certal V, Abdullatif J, et al. · Sleep · 2015 · 38(5):669–675
Systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrating that orofacial myofunctional therapy reduces AHI by 50% in adults and 62% in children, with significant improvements in oxygen saturation and snoring.
Critical role of myofascial reeducation in pediatric sleep-disordered breathing
Guilleminault C, Huang YS, Monteyrol PJ, Sato R, Quo S, Lin CH · Sleep Medicine · 2013 · 14(6):518–525
Demonstrates that myofascial reeducation is critical to preventing OSA recurrence following adenotonsillectomy in children, particularly those with residual orofacial dysfunction.
Palatal Expansion & Skeletal Correction
Rapid maxillary expansion in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Pirelli P, Saponara M, Guilleminault C · Sleep · 2004 · 27(4):761–766
Prospective study showing that rapid maxillary expansion in children with OSA and narrow palates produced complete resolution of OSA in the majority of subjects at 4-year follow-up.
Swallowing in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
Cantarella G, Mantovani M, Torretta S, Pignataro L, Giannini L · Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica · 2007 · 59(5):253–259
Examines swallowing dysfunction in OSA patients, supporting the role of orofacial muscle retraining as part of comprehensive airway management.
Non-surgical treatment of transverse deficiency in adults using Microimplant-assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE)
Brunetto DP, Moreira Rodrigues A, Ribeiro AN, Nojima MCG · Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics · 2017 · 22(1):110–125
Documents the clinical outcomes of MARPE in adult patients, demonstrating successful skeletal expansion and nasal airway volume increases in patients with fused mid-palatal sutures.
Orthognathic Surgery & Airway
Maxillomandibular advancement for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Holty JE, Guilleminault C · Sleep Medicine Reviews · 2010 · 14(5):287–297
Systematic review of maxillomandibular advancement surgery for OSA, reporting a surgical success rate of 86% and cure rate of 43% — among the highest of any OSA treatment modality.
Surgical modifications of the upper airway for obstructive sleep apnea in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Caples SM, Rowley JA, Prinsell JR, et al. · Sleep · 2010 · 33(10):1396–1407
Comprehensive meta-analysis of upper airway surgical procedures for OSA, providing evidence-based guidance on patient selection and expected outcomes across surgical modalities.
Clinical Guidelines & Consensus Statements
ADA Policy Statement on Sleep Disordered Breathing
The American Dental Association recognizes the role of dentistry in the prevention, screening, and treatment of sleep related breathing disorders, including the use of oral appliance therapy.
AASM/AADSM Clinical Practice Guideline: Oral Appliance Therapy for OSA
Joint guideline from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine recommending oral appliance therapy for adult patients with OSA who prefer it to CPAP or cannot tolerate CPAP.
AAP Clinical Practice Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Childhood OSA
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening all children for snoring and sleep disordered breathing, with referral for polysomnography when OSA is suspected.