What is Airway Dentistry?
Airway dentistry, a recently emerging field of interest, primarily examines the evaluation of anatomical and functional aspects, as well as behaviors associated with the mouth, particularly those involving occlusion and the palate. These aspects play a crucial role in functions such as chewing, swallowing, phonation, and, especially, breathing.
Airway dentistry focuses on a variety of oral conditions that affect breathing. This field is particularly well-known for its effectiveness in treating sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, which has gained significant attention in the media. In addition to managing sleep disorders, airway dentistry aims to enhance overall well-being.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea in children is characterized by complete or partial pauses in breathing during sleep. This condition can result from airway obstruction due to enlarged tonsils, a large tongue, collapsing soft tissue at the back of the throat, or the brain's failure to regulate breathing during sleep.
Airway Orthodontics
Airway orthodontics is a specialized treatment method designed to improve respiratory function by correcting oral issues that hinder proper airflow. Common causes include misaligned teeth, a constricted palate, misaligned temporomandibular joints (TMJ), and various orthopedic developmental problems.
Oral Tissue Tethering
Oral tissue tethering (TOT) refers to the restricted soft tissues (frenulum) located in the oral cavity, commonly known as the tongue-tie, lip-tie, and buccal-tie. These TOTs have implications for the functionality, growth, and development of the jaws, oral cavity, teeth, and airway. The problems associated with TOTs include restrictive tongue-tie, lip-tie, and buccal-tie.