What Sets an Airway Orthodontist Apart
A orthodontic exam doesn’t only ask: are the teeth straight and the bite functional? An airway orthodontist asks a second question at the same visit: is the jaw developing in a way that supports healthy nasal breathing and restful sleep? This is not a separate credential, it is a treatment philosophy that looks at the whole picture of facial and jaw growth, not just tooth alignment.
What an Airway Orthodontist Looks For
During an evaluation, we watch for chronic mouth breathing, snoring, a narrow or high vaulted palate, dark circles under the eyes, restless sleep, and dental crowding that suggests a constricted arch. None of these signs replace a standard orthodontic exam, they simply broaden what we are watching for in both children and adults.
What an Airway Orthodontist Can and Cannot Do
An airway orthodontist cannot diagnose sleep apnea either in children or in adults. An airway orthodontist also cannot treat enlarged tonsils and adenoids which may cause airway obstruction: this is why we work with ENT specialists. A sleep apnea diagnosis requires a sleep study performed by a physician, and orthodontic treatment cannot cure sleep apnea on its own. What we can do is evaluate jaw growth and structure, address a narrow upper jaw with palatal expansion, reposition the lower jaw when appropriate, and refer to a physician or ENT specialist when the signs point to an airway concern that needs medical evaluation.
What is the Orthodontic Treatment for Airway Issues
Orthodontic treatment for airway issues centres on jaw development, not on diagnosing or curing a breathing disorder. When a narrow upper jaw is restricting nasal airflow, palatal expansion widens the arch and may help air move more freely, and for adults whose growth plates have already fused, MARPE (Miniscrew Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) may achieve that same widening without surgery. In select cases, repositioning the lower jaw can also improve the position of the tongue and soft tissues, which may reduce airway obstruction during sleep. This is done in conjunction with other specialists such as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Palatal expansion does not replace medical care and evaluation by a sleep specialist or an ENT. This is why we work with the specialists in Saint John, Quispamsis and St. Stephen so we can provide the best multi-disciplinary care for your family.
How This Shapes Care at MacKenzie Orthodontics
With over 20 years of experience and more than 10,000 patients treated across our Saint John, Quispamsis, and St. Stephen locations, we build this broader view into every evaluation, whether you are bringing in a 7 year old for a first evaluation or have a child who is older. The American and Canadian Associations of Orthodontists recommend a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7, and airway related signs are part of what we screen for at that visit and every visit after. Follow this link to learn more about airway orthodontics and sleep apnea.
