Orthodontics "Cutting Edge & Pioneering Airway Focused Approach"

Our office offers several orthodontic treatments. At Dentician, we are airway focused dentists who not just focus on aesthetics but the functions like breathing, sleeping and swallowing. The roof of the mouth is also the floor of the nose. Hence an airway focused orthodontic approach is crucial for growth and development of nasal passages and airway. We take the unique approach of treating your in such a way that your airway remains clear, improving both your smile and your ability to breathe. Our treatments are available to children and adults.

Is Orthodontics Just Straightening Teeth?

The reasons for doing any orthodontic treatment can vary. Most of the time, simply straightening teeth becomes the number one goal. We have learned, however, that there are larger issues at stake – some of them even affecting the quality of life for the child! This is not an exaggeration. When the growth of the jaws, and the formation of the airway are not optimal, serious health consequences can result: ADD or ADHD, delayed language and phonological skills, altered social development, restless sleep i.e. tossing and turning in bed, Habitual snoring, Frequent Tonsils and Adenoids, Bruxism i.e. clenching. headaches, Irritability, Bedwetting, Delayed growth etc. We take all these seriously.

Why Should Dentists Even Be Discussing The Airway?

The answer comes from even a simple look at the anatomy of the human airway. The entire jaw and mouth structure lies right in front of the airway, and how we treat the jaw and mouth structure can profoundly affect the function of the airway. Also, the way our faces and jaws grow is the largest factor in how healthy our airway will form.

What Is Airway Orthodontics Approach?

Airway orthodontics recognises the fact that sleep and breathing disorders that are caused by backward position of jaws and incorrect tongue resting posture. It focuses on bringing the jaw growth forward and wider in order to have wider airways which is of key importance to an overall well-being of an individual. Airway Orthodontics also acknowledges the limitations of all current orthodontics techniques. It not only focuses on maintaining a wider airways but also helps in achieving a correct spine posture, correct tongue posture, protection to your jaw joint and a healthy sleep and breathing pattern.

Importance of Early Intervention

EARLY INTERVENTION FOR BRACE PREVENTION.
YES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO ESCAPE BRACES FOR YOUR CHILD.

MAKE STRUCTURAL CHANGES DURING GROWTH YEARS

Early treatment focuses on structural and/or postural correction: the size of the jaws, the direction of jaw growth, etc which is unachievable after 11yrs of age. The bones are highly malleable at a younger age. It’s like getting a spaceship pointed toward the moon soon after it leaves earth; waiting until later will often mean a larger and more difficult correction. Children also cooperate with and tolerate simpler treatment at a younger age – much better than teenagers do. Early treatment can make the teenage treatment, when it is necessary, shorter, simpler, and more comfortable.

HOW TO AVOID EXTRACTIONS

When more space is made for the erupting teeth, the likelihood of needing extractions or jaw surgery is decreased. The permanent teeth do better when they can erupt into an arch that has enough room. When teeth do not have enough room, they can end up in positions that are more complicated to correct: they can become impacted, they can erupt through the wrong part of the gum tissue, and they can cause damage to the roots of adjacent teeth. These are all reasons to consider early treatment.

WHEN TO BEGIN?

One can start as early as 3-5 yrs of age. Don’t wait until 11-12 yrs when jaw growth is completed.

Avoiding extractions, surgery, more complicated treatment, tooth impactions, ectopic eruptions (teeth coming in at the wrong place), – and optimizing facial, jaw, and airway growth, – these are all good reasons to put the priority on working toward correction of problems we can address early treatment. Starting Oral Myofunctional Therapy early enough may eliminate the need for braces all together.

The Role of Oral Myofunctional Therapy (BRACE PREVENTION)

Oral Myofunctional Therapy is an exercise program used to correct the improper function of the muscle of the face and tongue. It also involves the use of a therapeutic approach to tone these muscles in order to achieve essential functions like nasal breathing, swallowing which should come to us naturally. Ideal rest oral posture is: lips together, teeth lightly together, and tongue to the roof of the mouth. If the rest posture of the mouth is not optimal, then facial and airway growth are a concern – and they will remain a concern throughout life.

The tongue can exert upto 500gms of force while it takes only 1.7gms of force to move a tooth. The tongue naturally rests at a spot behind the upper front teeth in the roof of your mouth. Incorrect positioning of the tongue can affect the growth of the upper jaw. This in turn does not give enough room for the teeth to align resulting in crooked teeth. If a child begin early enough the tongue can be trained to behave like a natural expander and help in correct airway and jaw growth.

Oral Myofunctional Therapy is successful when used in combination with Prefabricated Oral Appliances like Myobrace and MyoMunchee, which focus on correcting the underlying causes for crooked teeth leading to natural growth and development. It can also prevent braces in future. These procedures are best suited for children from 3 years through their early teens.

India's First Airway Focused Orthodontics

Our Founder & Director, Dr Ankita Shah learned the relationship between Dentistry, Airway and Orthodontics during her training under ENT & Sleep Surgeon, Dr. Soroush Zaghi of the Breathe Institute, Los Angeles.

Traditional Orthodontics

75% of children have crooked teeth and incorrect development of jaws. The problems are evident as early as 3 yrs of age. Research shows that these problems continue to the permanent set of teeth and may need complex treatment with braces that are only structural and cosmetic.

Dental braces are devices that align and straighten teeth and jaws. We treat many kids and adults with conventional braces and other techniques with the goal of “straight teeth.” Even though we believe there’s a cure for bite problems, and we have a very unique airway-focused approach to orthodontics, we also see the value of a smile that looks its best.