For a long time, orthodontics focused primarily on cosmetic results. While you certainly want to have a straight and beautiful smile after you finish orthodontic treatment, the right care plan should also ensure that your jaw is aligned and your airways are unobstructed.
That’s why Eric R. Koch, DDS, and the team at Advanced Dental Care of East Texas offer airway-focused orthodontic care at our Jasper, Texas, office. Using advanced treatment options, like ClearCorrect® aligners and the Tréz MaxComfort system, we can address cosmetic issues and so much more.
Let’s take a look at the nine areas Dr. Koch assesses when you choose airway-focused orthodontic treatment.
As its name suggests, airway-focused orthodontic care focuses on your air passages. Dr. Koch looks at your two airways — the one through your nose and the one through your mouth — to ensure you’re able to breathe through both.
Snoring and sleep apnea both indicate that your airways don’t work like they should while you’re sleeping. Airway-focused orthodontic care addresses these issues.
Dr. Koch assesses your speech as part of his airway-focused orthodontic evaluation. That can help him identify if a misalignment in your teeth is getting in the way of your communication capabilities.
By analyzing your swallowing pattern, Dr. Koch can determine if issues like tongue thrusting will cause problems for your orthodontic results over time.
Dr. Koch’s airway-focused orthodontic treatment also takes your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) — the joints that hinge your jaw — into consideration. If you’re living with TMJ disorder and the headaches, jaw pain, and other issues it causes, he can apply treatment to help you find relief.
The way you hold your lips when your mouth is at rest plays a role in your overall oral health, so Dr. Koch looks at your lips, too.
Because your jaw shapes how your teeth fit together and how you talk, eat, and look, it’s an essential part of orthodontic care.
Certain issues that airway-focused orthodontic care emphasizes impact the way your face develops. Mouth breathing can change the shape of your face, for example. Dr. Koch checks for any facial growth irregularities that can be corrected with proper orthodontic care.
Finally, Dr. Koch ensures that your care plan provides you with a beautiful smile of straight and well-aligned teeth.
If you want to get more out of your orthodontic care, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Dr. Koch for your airway-focused orthodontic assessment. To get started, call our office or book your visit online today.
