Straight teeth, and room to breathe
The way a child's jaws grow affects far more than their smile. It shapes the space for the tongue, the airway behind it, and often the quality of their sleep. Airway-focused orthodontics treats all of it together, while your child is still growing and change comes most naturally. We focus on function, breathing, and the airway, and straight teeth follow as the beautiful side effect.
Why we look beyond the teeth
Every orthodontist asks whether the teeth fit together well. We also ask whether your child can breathe comfortably through their nose, awake and asleep, and whether their jaws are giving the tongue the room it needs.
The tongue rests against the roof of the mouth and gently guides the upper jaw as it grows. When a child breathes through the mouth, often because of a tongue-tie, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or long pacifier use, the tongue drops. Over time the palate can grow high and narrow, the teeth crowd, and the airway has less room. Addressing that pattern early can change how a child grows.
Dr. Bracy provides early airway-focused treatment for our youngest patients, and Dr. Chay leads orthodontic care as children grow into their teens, so your child can stay with the same team from their first appliance to their final retainer.
Signs worth mentioning
- Breathing through the mouth, or resting with the lips apart
- Snoring, loud breathing, or restless sleep
- Waking tired, with headaches, or with dark circles under the eyes
- Bedwetting beyond the expected age
- Grinding the teeth at night
- Crowding in the baby teeth, or a crossbite or underbite
- Difficulty focusing, or restlessness during the day
Two visits, so nothing is rushed
Orthodontic care at WholeSmile begins with a records appointment, followed by a separate consultation. The time in between lets your doctor study your child's records carefully before making any recommendation.
Records visit: we listen
We begin with your questions and your child's history, including sleep, breathing, feeding, and any habits you have noticed.
Records visit: we gather
We take digital scans, photos, and 3D imaging that shows the airway, and your doctor examines the teeth, jaws, tongue posture, and frenum attachments.
Consultation: your plan
At your second visit, your doctor walks you through the findings, explains the timing and the options, and presents a personalized treatment plan.
Coordinated care
When your child would benefit from an ENT, a myofunctional therapist, or another specialist, we coordinate with them and keep your pediatrician informed.
The right tool for each stage of growth
Every plan is built around your child's age, growth, and goals. These are the approaches we use most often.
Expanders
A gentle, gradual widening of a narrow upper jaw makes room for the tongue and the incoming adult teeth, and it can support easier breathing through the nose. It works best while the jaw is still growing.
Miniscrew-Supported Expansion
Once growth has matured, a traditional expander is no longer effective. Miniscrew-assisted expansion (MARPE) widens the upper jaw in older patients, and it is placed in our office with numbing and nitrous oxide for comfort.
Damon Braces
Damon self-ligating braces use a sliding mechanism in place of elastic ties, which means lighter forces on the teeth and a more comfortable experience.
Clear Aligners
For the right patient, clear aligners move teeth discreetly with removable trays, and they fit easily around school, sports, and music.
We would love to meet your family
A consultation is the best place to start. We will listen, examine, and walk you through what we see, with time for every question you bring.