Share Your Concerns
Discuss your goals, breathing and sleep concerns, and previous orthodontic care.
Airway-centered orthodontics considers tooth alignment, the bite, jaw development, and oral function together when planning care. At Face Focused Orthodontics in Agoura Hills, CA, Dr. Tim Yu evaluates children, teens, and adults to determine which orthodontic options fit their individual needs.
Get to know our approachWatch Dr. Tim Yu explain airway-centered orthodontics.
Often called airway orthodontics or airway-focused orthodontics, this approach brings questions about breathing, sleep, tongue posture, and facial growth into the orthodontic assessment. A narrow upper jaw, crowding, or a bite discrepancy may be relevant to treatment planning, but the same findings do not mean that every patient needs expansion or has a breathing disorder.
The goal is to understand the relationship between the teeth, supporting jaws, and oral function before recommending care. Depending on your anatomy and stage of growth, treatment may involve orthodontic alignment, arch development, or palate expansion. Each option has a specific purpose and must be selected for the individual patient.
Breathing and sleep concerns can have several causes. An orthodontic examination can identify dental and jaw findings and help determine whether collaboration with a physician, sleep specialist, or other healthcare professional is appropriate.
Orthodontics already addresses the alignment of teeth and the relationship of the jaws. At Face Focused, airway-centered planning also includes a discussion of breathing patterns, sleep concerns, and oral function. It does not replace the goals of a comfortable bite and a well-aligned smile; it adds context to how care is planned.
At your first visit, Dr. Yu examines your teeth, bite, jaw relationships, and oral anatomy. Bring questions about mouth breathing, snoring, sleep quality, previous orthodontic care, and any existing medical diagnoses. Dental records and imaging, when clinically appropriate, help inform orthodontic planning.
Your evaluation is an opportunity to discuss which findings may be addressed through orthodontic care and whether another healthcare professional should be involved. An orthodontic examination or 3D image alone does not diagnose obstructive sleep apnea; medical evaluation and a sleep study may be needed.
Discuss your goals, breathing and sleep concerns, and previous orthodontic care.
Review your bite, jaw relationships, and oral anatomy, with records and imaging when appropriate.
Explore appropriate orthodontic options and whether another healthcare professional should be involved.
Children, teens, and adults can discuss breathing and sleep concerns as part of their orthodontic evaluation. Tell your provider about persistent mouth breathing, regular snoring, restless sleep, or waking without feeling rested. Crowding, a crossbite, or a narrow palate may also warrant an orthodontic assessment.
These concerns do not establish a diagnosis or prove that expansion is needed. If you notice pauses in breathing, choking or gasping during sleep, or significant daytime sleepiness, discuss them with your physician or your child’s pediatrician. Orthodontic care may be one part of a broader care plan.
Airway-centered orthodontics is a planning approach, not a single appliance. The appropriate treatment depends on jaw width, bite relationships, growth, and your goals.
Growth, development, and early evaluation help guide planning for children whose jaws are still growing.
Changing growth patterns and individual anatomy influence expansion options and orthodontic needs.
Evaluate bite and jaw relationships after growth, including the assessment needed to determine adult expansion candidacy.
Not every patient needs expansion, and orthodontic treatment does not guarantee a change in breathing or sleep. When medical concerns are present, care should be coordinated with the appropriate healthcare professionals. Learn more about our interdisciplinary approach.
For an introduction to appliance types and their uses, visit our palate expander guide.
No. Airway-centered orthodontics describes an approach to evaluation and planning. Palate expansion is one treatment option that may be considered when a narrow upper jaw or another appropriate orthodontic finding is present.
Yes. Adults can have their teeth, bite, and jaw relationships evaluated. Treatment options differ from those for growing children, and adult expansion candidacy requires an individual assessment.
Orthodontic treatment is not a guaranteed cure for sleep apnea. A physician or sleep specialist should diagnose the condition and guide its management. Orthodontic care may be considered as part of a coordinated plan for selected patients.
Timing and fees depend on the treatment plan, appliances, complexity, and any coordinated care. Your consultation is the place to discuss the recommended approach and obtain an individualized estimate.
Visit Face Focused Orthodontics at 30200 Agoura Road, Suite 220, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. Request an appointment or call/text (805) 374-9377 to discuss your next step. If you live outside the area, explore our virtual consultation option.