Frequently Asked Questions

 Airway-focused dentistry, also known as airway-centered dentistry or airway-centric dentistry, is a specialized approach within the field of dentistry that emphasizes the critical role of the upper airway in overall health and well-being. This approach recognizes that proper breathing and optimal airway function are essential for not only respiratory health but also for various aspects of oral health, facial development, and overall quality of life. 

 Airway-focused dentists perform thorough assessments to evaluate a patient's airway health, breathing habits, and craniofacial development. This often involves using diagnostic tools such as cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans to assess airway dimensions and jaw relationships. 

 Recognizing that improper oral and facial development can contribute to airway issues, airway-focused dentistry often advocates for early intervention in children. Certain oral habits, such as mouth breathing, thumb sucking, and improper tongue posture, can impact facial growth and airway development. Intervening early may help prevent future airway-related problems. 

 Airway-focused dentists work closely with orthodontists to implement treatment strategies that promote proper airway function. Orthodontic techniques may include expanding the dental arches, correcting malocclusions, and optimizing jaw position to facilitate better breathing. 

 Airway-focused dentistry often involves collaboration with other healthcare professionals, such as sleep medicine specialists, ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctors, myofunctional therapists, and speech-language pathologists. This interdisciplinary approach ensures a holistic understanding of the patient's airway health. 

 Myofunctional therapy is often integrated into airway-focused dentistry. This therapy aims to train the muscles of the tongue, lips, and face to function properly, which can contribute to improved breathing, swallowing, and speech patterns. .

 Airway-focused dentists educate patients about the importance of proper breathing and its impact on overall health. Patients are empowered to understand how their oral habits, posture, and jaw alignment can affect their airway function 

Since sleep quality is closely linked to airway health, airway-focused dentists may play a role in identifying patients at risk for sleep-disordered breathing conditions, such as sleep apnea. They can provide guidance on treatment options and referrals to sleep specialists when necessary.

 The nasal release technique has many other names, such as bilateral nasal specific, nasal ballooning, cranial facial release, endonasal technique, and neurocranial restructuring. A small balloon attached to a bulb is inserted into the nasal meatuses and quickly inflated and deflated. It’s done eight times – both lower, middle, and upper meatuses, and then the lower meatuses again. Each time the balloon is inflated it puts pressure on different cranial bones, which feels and sounds like an adjustment. Creating space and allowing slight movement in the cranium can help many conditions. 

 MARPE (Microimplant-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) and MSE (Miniscrew Suported Expansion)  involves the use of small temporary implants (microimplants or miniscrews) that are inserted into the palate (roof of the mouth) to provide additional anchorage and support for the expansion process. Traditional palatal expanders often rely on anchorage from the teeth, which can lead to unwanted side effects like tipping of teeth. With MARPE, the microimplants allow for controlled and more efficient expansion of the upper jaw without relying solely on dental anchorage.