Treatments & Therapy
Airway health treatment exists on a spectrum — from simple habit retraining to surgical correction. We meet every patient where they are.
A Spectrum of Care
No two airways are alike. Some patients need gentle guidance — retraining muscles, opening nasal passages, and supporting proper jaw development. Others have structural limitations that require more involved intervention. At Airway Health Dentistry, we evaluate the full picture and recommend the most conservative effective path forward.
The therapies below are organized from least to most invasive. Many patients benefit from a combination of approaches, and our team coordinates closely with ENTs, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and myofunctional therapists to deliver integrated care.
Conservative Therapies
First-line treatments that retrain function, restore nasal breathing, and support proper jaw development — without surgery.
Myofunctional Therapy
Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) retrains the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face to function correctly. Improper tongue posture, mouth breathing, and incorrect swallowing patterns all contribute to airway restriction — OMT addresses these at the root.
- Corrects tongue posture and resting position
- Eliminates mouth breathing habits
- Retrains swallowing patterns
- Supports orthodontic stability
Nasal Breathing Therapy
The nose is the body's primary airway — it filters, humidifies, and warms incoming air while producing nitric oxide that dilates blood vessels and improves oxygen uptake. When nasal breathing is compromised, the entire system suffers. Nasal breathing therapy identifies and addresses the barriers keeping patients from breathing through their nose.
- Identifies nasal obstruction contributors
- Coordinates with ENT when structural issues exist
- Incorporates myofunctional and habit retraining
- Improves sleep quality and daytime energy
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliances are custom-fitted devices worn during sleep that reposition the lower jaw and tongue to maintain an open airway. They are a well-established, non-invasive alternative to CPAP for mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea and are often used in combination with other therapies.
- FDA-cleared for mild-to-moderate OSA
- Comfortable alternative to CPAP
- Custom-fitted for each patient
- Can be combined with myofunctional therapy
When Conservative Care Isn't Enough
Surgical & Structural Options
When anatomy limits what conservative therapy can achieve, structural intervention creates the space needed for lasting airway health.
Surgical options are considered when skeletal or structural limitations prevent adequate airway improvement through conservative means alone. These procedures are not a first resort — they are a precise, evidence-based response to anatomical constraints that cannot be resolved otherwise.
Our team coordinates directly with board-certified oral surgeons and orthodontists who specialize in airway-focused treatment. Every surgical recommendation is preceded by thorough diagnostic imaging, airway analysis, and interdisciplinary consultation.
Pediatric Palatal Expansion
Children's palates are still developing, making early expansion one of the most powerful tools in airway dentistry. A narrow palate compresses the nasal floor, reduces nasal airway volume, and crowds teeth — all of which compound breathing difficulties. Palatal expansion widens the upper jaw, increases nasal volume, and creates space for the tongue to rest correctly.
- Most effective during active growth phases
- Increases nasal airway volume
- Creates space for proper tongue posture
- Reduces need for future tooth extractions
Adult Airway Expansion (MARPE)
Maxillary Skeletal Expansion (MSE/MARPE) uses a bone-anchored palatal expander to widen the upper jaw in adults whose mid-palatal suture has fused. Unlike traditional expanders, MARPE works at the skeletal level — producing real, stable increases in nasal airway volume and palatal width without jaw surgery.
- Effective in adults with fused palatal suture
- Bone-anchored for skeletal-level expansion
- Increases nasal airway volume measurably
- Minimally invasive compared to jaw surgery
Mandibular Arch Expansion
A narrow lower jaw restricts tongue space, forces the tongue into the airway, and compounds upper arch crowding. Mandibular arch expansion develops the lower jaw to create adequate room for the tongue to rest in its correct position — off the airway floor. This is often coordinated with maxillary expansion and myofunctional therapy for comprehensive airway development.
- Expands the lower arch to create tongue space
- Reduces tongue-based airway obstruction
- Coordinated with upper arch expansion
- Supports long-term orthodontic stability
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic (jaw) surgery repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both to correct skeletal discrepancies that cannot be resolved with orthodontics or expansion alone. For patients with significant jaw misalignment contributing to airway restriction, orthognathic surgery can produce dramatic, permanent improvements in airway volume, bite function, and facial balance.
- Corrects significant skeletal jaw discrepancies
- Produces permanent increases in airway volume
- Coordinated with orthodontic treatment
- Improves bite, breathing, and facial balance simultaneously
Not Sure Where to Start?
Every airway is different. Schedule a consultation and we'll map out the right path for you.
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