Airway Orthodontics in Kansas City, Liberty, & Raymore MO
If you are looking for more information about airway orthodontics or are searching for an office that offers this treatment for your child, you’re in the right place! Our specialists are here to educate you on airway orthodontics, define the symptoms that should prompt a visit and explain how this treatment can help your child breathe better.
What Is Airway Orthodontics?
While orthodontics is mainly thought of as an aesthetic treatment, airway orthodontics is about more than just looks. Airway orthodontics focuses on the relationship between the body’s adequate oxygen intake and orthodontic treatment for the facial structure, mouth, jaws and teeth.
Airway orthodontics aims to treat breathing obstruction caused by improper growth of the face, teeth and jaw, and allow your child to breathe in a way that optimally benefits their overall health. Obstructed breathing forces your body to compensate for limited oxygen levels, which negatively affects sleep, impedes growth and causes behavioral problems. Our specialists seek to resolve obstructed breathing and provide your child with a lifetime of healthy breathing.
When Should You See an Airway Orthodontist in Kansas City, Raymore, & Liberty MO?
If your child has any of the below symptoms, we recommend a visit to Burleson Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry for an evaluation:
- Hyperactivity
- ADHD
- Chronic lethargy
- Breathing through mouth instead of nose
- Rapid shallow breathing
- Bedwetting
- Chronic nighttime restlessness, waking or nightmares
- Periods of no breathing or breath-holding while asleep
In children, chronic mouth breathing has even been shown to change the shape of the developing face. Early assessment gives your child the chance to fix these issues. When a child’s facial structure is guided properly, there can be lasting positive effects on the way they breathe.
Your Child’s First Visit
Structural abnormalities are frequently the root of troubled breathing in children. Our specialists will check for these issues during your child’s evaluation:
- Improper formation of the maxilla, mandible or other components of the jaw and airway resulted in limited air flow during breathing.
- Improper habits, such as accelerated breathing, tongue placement or body posture.
- Compensation and/or genetic factors that have influenced the shape, size or position of the jaw and face.
If your child’s body regularly struggles for proper oxygen levels, normal development is impeded, and this can lead to numerous long-lasting health problems, including an increased risk for high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Airway orthodontics will help protect your child’s overall health and provide them with a lifetime of healthy breathing.
