Airway Specialist

At Montgomery, Prattville & Pike Road Pediatric Dentistry & Family Orthodontics, we don’t just focus on straight teeth, we care about the bigger picture of your child’s overall health. As experienced airway specialists, our mission is to ensure proper airway development, helping children and adults breathe better, sleep deeper, and thrive throughout life.

What Is an Airway Specialist?

An airway specialist is a dental professional trained to identify and address issues that interfere with proper breathing and airway development. Unlike traditional orthodontic care, which primarily corrects tooth alignment and jaw position, airway-focused orthodontics looks at how the structure of the mouth, jaws, and facial bones can impact breathing, especially during sleep.

Early identification of airway concerns can help prevent long-term health issues like obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, chronic mouth breathing, and even behavioral problems in children.

Why Airway Health Matters

Airway development is foundational to a child’s overall health and quality of life. Poor airway function can lead to:

• Sleep-disordered breathing, such as snoring or sleep apnea
• Chronic mouth breathing which can affect facial growth and oral health
• Daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty focusing
• Poor growth or weight gain in younger children
• Speech and swallowing challenges

These symptoms are often overlooked or misattributed, which is why a comprehensive evaluation by an airway specialist is so important.

What Is Airway Orthodontics?

Airway orthodontics is a specialized approach that focuses on optimizing jaw development and oral function to create a healthy airway. This can involve:

• Growth-guided orthodontic appliances to expand the jaw and nasal passages
• Myofunctional therapy to improve tongue posture and nasal breathing
• Early intervention treatments for children as young as 4 to guide facial development
• Collaborative care with sleep physicians, ENT specialists, and pediatricians when needed

This proactive, whole-health approach supports natural breathing and sets the stage for proper development, restful sleep, and long-term wellness.

Signs Your Child Might Need an Airway Evaluation

Is your child showing any of the following symptoms?

• Frequent snoring or noisy breathing during sleep
• Restless sleep or frequent waking
• Dark under-eye circles (“allergic shiners”)
• Bedwetting past the age of 6
• Open-mouth posture during the day
• Speech delays or lisping
• Difficulty focusing in school

These are all potential indicators of an underlying airway issue. Our team can perform a gentle, non-invasive evaluation to help determine if airway-focused care is needed.

Expert Care, Compassionate Approach

At our offices in Montgomery, Prattville, and Pike Road, our experienced orthodontists and pediatric dental professionals work hand-in-hand to deliver advanced airway orthodontic care in a supportive, kid-friendly environment. Every child’s treatment plan is personalized and rooted in the latest research and techniques to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Schedule a Consultation With Our Airway Specialists Today

If you suspect your child may have an airway issue or simply want peace of mind, schedule a consultation with our airway specialists. Together, we’ll take the first step toward healthier breathing, better sleep, and a brighter future.