Airway based orthodontics look at the entirety of your health- not just your teeth. Our bodies react to stressors caused by our modern diets, lifestyles, and our environments. Crooked teeth and misaligned jaws are signs of significant issues that our brain and bodies are attempting to cope with. The way we breathe and swallow as well as our posture, can affect the development of our jaw, teeth and face.
If started early, Airway orthodontics can prevent deficient (or sometimes excess) facial growth, disturbed sleep and crooked teeth by restoring airways and balancing structural growth. These issues affect the entire body and can even disturb normal cognitive development.
Upon thorough analysis of you or your child’s anatomy, physiology and neurology Dr. Munkel looks for the cause of the problem and strives for long term overall betterment.
“Respiratory needs are the primary determinate of the posture of the jaws and tongue and of the head itself.”
-Dr Williams Profitt, Contemporary Orthodontics
Airway Orthodontics | VS | Traditional Orthodontics |
---|---|---|
Holistic | Philosophy | Allopathic |
Causes | Diagnostic Focus | Symptoms |
Overall Health | Outcome Focus | Esthetics |
Yes | Treats the cause of the problem | No |
Yes, it can | Prevents Crooked teeth | Does not prevent only treats. |
Rarely | Extractions needed | With crowding as needed |
Main focus | Facial Improvement | Limited, or with surgery |
Yes | Smile Esthetics | Yes |
Helpful | Jaw Joint Health | Neutral to Stressful |
Helpful | Sleep Disordered Breathing | Neutral to Stressful |
Essential from Patient and Parent | Requires Cooperation | Required for Hygiene and Instructions |
In Stages over the period of growth | Time for Treatment | Less than 2 years generally |
Little, but requires discipline | Discomfort | Soreness while getting used to appliances |