Airway dentistry is a branch of dentistry focused on identifying, preventing, and managing issues related to breathing, particularly those involving obstructed or dysfunctional airways, which can affect oral health, sleep, and overall well-being.
a) Signs of airway issues
Mouth breathing
Snoring
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
Crowded or misaligned teeth
Narrow dental arches
b) Objectives
Ensure proper nasal breathing
Promote optimal jaw and facial development
Prevent or manage sleep-disordered breathing (e.g., snoring, obstructive sleep apnea)
Improve quality of life through early detection and intervention
c) Treatment Approaches
Myofunctional therapy (muscle training for proper oral posture)
Orthodontics (expansion of the dental arch, correcting jaw alignment)
Oral appliance therapy (e.g., mandibular advancement devices for sleep apnea)
Collaboration with ENT specialists, sleep physicians, and myofunctional therapists