Airway Dentistry

Airway dentists specialize in identifying and treating structural issues in the mouth and throat that impact your breathing patterns. Unlike traditional dentistry that primarily focuses on teeth and gums, airway dentists evaluate the entire oral-facial complex and its relationship to respiratory function.

 

At ROZE Bio Health Clinic, our airway-centered approach evaluates how your teeth, jaw position, tongue, and surrounding soft tissues affect your ability to breathe properly, particularly during sleep. Rather than simply treating symptoms, we address the root causes of breathing-related disorders by optimizing your oral and airway structures.

 

You may benefit from seeing an airway dentist if you:

• Experience chronic sleep problems or have been diagnosed with sleep apnea
• Suffer from persistent snoring that affects your or your partner’s sleep quality
• Have unexplained daytime fatigue despite adequate sleep time
• Deal with chronic headaches, particularly upon waking
• Notice dental issues like teeth grinding, jaw pain, or premature tooth wear
• Have children exhibiting mouth breathing, behavioral issues, or developmental concerns

The significance of proper breathing extends far beyond dental health. When airways are compromised, your body may not receive adequate oxygen, triggering a cascade of health issues that affect multiple systems:

• Optimal Oxygen Delivery: Ensuring your body receives adequate oxygen to support cellular function
• Sleep Quality: Restricted airways can lead to sleep-disordered breathing, including sleep apnea and snoring
• Cognitive Function: Reduced oxygen levels may impair concentration, memory, and cognitive performance
• Cardiovascular Health: Poor airway function puts strain on your heart and can contribute to hypertension
• Energy Levels: Compromised breathing often results in chronic fatigue and daytime sleepiness
• Immune System: Optimal oxygen levels are essential for proper immune function
• Developmental Issues: In children, airway problems can affect facial growth, academic performance, and behavior
• Systemic Health: Reducing the risk of serious health conditions associated with chronic poor breathing

When breathing patterns become disrupted, a cascade of physiological responses occurs:

• Increased Sympathetic Nervous System Activity: Your body remains in a state of heightened alert, preventing proper relaxation
• Reduced Deep Sleep: Compromising your body’s ability to repair tissues and consolidate memories
• Oxygen Desaturation: Periodic drops in blood oxygen levels stress your cardiovascular system
• CO2 Retention: Imbalances in carbon dioxide levels can alter blood pH and affect various bodily functions
• Inflammatory Responses: Poor breathing triggers increased inflammation throughout the body
• Hormonal Disruption: Affecting growth, stress, and metabolic hormones
• Postural Compensation: Leading to neck, shoulder, and back tension as the body attempts to maintain open airways

These disruptions, occurring night after night, can lead to serious long-term health consequences if not addressed.

Many individuals with airway dysfunction remain undiagnosed. At ROZE Bio Health Clinic, we perform comprehensive evaluations to identify potential airway issues. Warning signs that might indicate airway problems include:

 

Physical Symptoms

• Chronic mouth breathing
• Forward head posture
• Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism)
• Narrow dental arches or crowded teeth
• Recessed chin or jaw
• Frequent headaches, especially upon waking
• Neck and shoulder tension

 

Sleep-Related Symptoms

• Snoring
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Restless sleep or frequent awakenings
• Sleep apnea diagnosis
• Night sweats
• Bedwetting (in children)
• Morning dry mouth
• Waking unrefreshed despite adequate sleep time

 

Cognitive and Behavioral Symptoms

• Chronic fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood disorders or irritability
• Decreased academic or work performance
• Hyperactivity or ADHD-like symptoms (especially in children)

Certain factors may increase your risk of developing airway issues:

 

Anatomical Factors:

• Recessed jaw or chin
• Narrow dental arches
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
• Deviated nasal septum
• Tongue-tie or restricted frenulum

 

Lifestyle Factors:

• Obesity or excess weight
• Alcohol consumption before sleep
• Sedative medication use
• Smoking
• Poor sleep posture

 

Medical Conditions:

• Chronic nasal congestion
• Asthma
• Allergies
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Family history of sleep apnea

 

At ROZE Bio Health Clinic, we conduct thorough risk assessments to identify patients who may benefit from preventive intervention before significant symptoms develop.

Airway dentistry involves a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to assessment and treatment. At ROZE Bio Health Clinic, the process typically follows these steps:

 

Advanced Diagnostics

• Comprehensive Evaluation: We begin with a detailed assessment of your oral structures, breathing patterns, and sleep quality.
• 3D Cone Beam CT Scanning: Provides detailed imaging of your airway structures
• Digital Airway Analysis: Measures the volume and dimensions of your breathing passages
• Sleep Screening: Identifies potential sleep-disordered breathing patterns
• Bite and Jaw Evaluation: Assesses how dental alignment impacts your airway
• Oral Function Assessment: Examines tongue position, swallowing patterns, and oral resting postures

 

Personalized Treatment Options

Based on your specific findings, we develop an individualized treatment approach that may include:

Oral Appliance Therapy

Custom-designed devices that reposition the jaw and tongue to maintain open airways during sleep. These appliances are particularly effective for treating mild to moderate sleep apnea and snoring by preventing the collapse of soft tissues that obstruct breathing pathways.

 

Myofunctional Therapy

Specialized exercises to strengthen and retrain the muscles of the tongue, throat, and face, promoting proper oral resting postures and breathing patterns. This therapy helps establish nasal breathing, correct tongue position, and optimize swallowing patterns.

 

Palatal Expansion

For patients with narrow dental arches, expansion techniques can create more space for the tongue and improve nasal airflow. This may involve dental appliances that gradually widen the upper jaw, creating more room for proper tongue positioning and enhancing nasal breathing capacity.

 

Frenulum Evaluation and Treatment

Addressing restrictions in the lingual or labial frenulum that may impair proper tongue function and positioning. When the tongue cannot move freely due to these restrictions, it may rest improperly and contribute to airway obstruction.

 

CPAP Alternatives

For those who cannot tolerate traditional CPAP therapy, we offer comfortable, effective alternatives to manage sleep apnea. These solutions focus on addressing the root causes of breathing disruption rather than simply forcing air through obstructed passages.

 

Collaboration with Specialists

We work closely with ENT specialists, sleep physicians, and other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive care for complex cases, creating integrated treatment plans that address all aspects of airway health.

Several habits and behaviors can negatively impact your breathing patterns:

 

Mouth Breathing

Breathing through the mouth instead of the nose bypasses the natural filtering, warming, and humidifying functions of nasal passages. Chronic mouth breathing can alter facial development in children and lead to various health issues in adults.

 

Poor Posture

Forward head posture and slouching compress the airway and restrict diaphragm movement, compromising breathing efficiency. Maintaining proper alignment of the head, neck, and spine is essential for optimal airway function.

 

Incorrect Tongue Positioning

The tongue should naturally rest against the roof of the mouth. When it falls back toward the throat, it can narrow the airway passage, especially during sleep.

 

Stress-Induced Breathing Patterns

Chronic stress often leads to shallow, rapid breathing patterns that can become habitual even when the stressor is removed, reducing oxygen intake and affecting sleep quality.

 

Nutritional Factors

Certain foods can increase inflammation in airway tissues or exacerbate conditions like acid reflux that contribute to breathing difficulties during sleep.

At ROZE Bio Health Clinic, we help patients identify and correct these detrimental habits while establishing healthier breathing patterns.

Sleep disorders often have an underlying airway component that can be effectively addressed through airway-centered dental approaches:

 

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

By repositioning the jaw and supporting structures, oral appliances can prevent airway collapse during sleep, reducing or eliminating apnea events without the need for CPAP machines in many cases.

 

For Snoring

Addressing the root causes of tissue vibration through proper positioning of oral structures can significantly reduce or eliminate snoring, improving sleep quality for both the patient and their sleep partners.

 

For Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS)

This often-undiagnosed condition involves increased effort to breathe during sleep without complete airway blockage. Airway dentistry can reduce this resistance, decreasing arousal events and improving sleep continuity.

 

For Pediatric Sleep Disorders

Early intervention through palatal expansion, myofunctional therapy, and addressing issues like enlarged tonsils or adenoids can resolve childhood sleep disorders and prevent their progression into adulthood.

 

For Insomnia Related to Breathing Issues

When breathing disruptions trigger frequent awakenings or prevent deep sleep, correcting these issues can help patients achieve and maintain restful sleep throughout the night.

 

Our comprehensive approach at ROZE Bio Health Clinic addresses not just the symptoms but the underlying structural and functional causes of sleep disorders, providing more complete and lasting results than approaches that focus solely on managing symptoms.

Patients who undergo airway-focused treatment at ROZE Bio Health Clinic often experience significant improvements in:

• Sleep Quality: Wake feeling truly rested and refreshed
• Energy Levels: Enjoy increased daytime alertness and productivity
• Cognitive Function: Experience improved focus, memory, and mental clarity
• Oral Health: Reduce teeth grinding, TMJ symptoms, and associated dental wear
• Overall Wellness: Support your body’s natural healing processes through optimal oxygenation
• Children’s Development: Promote proper facial growth and cognitive development in younger patients

Your journey to improved airway health begins with a comprehensive evaluation at ROZE Bio Health Clinic. Our experienced team will assess your unique situation and develop a personalized treatment plan to address your specific airway concerns.

 

Don’t let breathing issues compromise your health and quality of life. Contact ROZE Bio Health Clinic today to schedule your airway evaluation and discover how airway-centered dentistry can transform your well-being.

 

We highly recommend booking an appointment with our Airway and Functional Dentist, Dr. Laura Maañón — Sleep Medicine Specialist, Cosmetic Dentist, and IAOMT, SMART Certified professional — for expert care and a tailored treatment approach.

 

Call us at +971 4 388 1313 or book your appointment online to breathe better, sleep better, and live better.