Airway orthodontics involves evaluating how your child’s teeth, jaws, and palate may relate to their breathing and development. At Hidden Valley Orthodontics, board-certified orthodontist Dr. Christy Fortney screens for these factors during every new-patient exam, recommends orthodontic treatment when appropriate, and works with pediatricians and other medical specialists when breathing concerns need further evaluation.
Sometimes, parents notice little things that make them wonder whether their child’s teeth, jaws, or facial development could be affecting their breathing. An orthodontic evaluation can help determine whether there are orthodontic factors worth exploring.
These signs do not automatically mean a child has an airway problem. Snoring and mouth breathing can have several causes, and an orthodontic evaluation cannot replace a medical assessment. The goal is to understand your child’s individual needs and determine whether orthodontic care should be part of the conversation.
If you’re noticing changes in your child’s bite or jaw development, our early orthodontic treatment options may be a helpful place to start learning more. You can also read our blog post on signs of airway issues in children.
Orthodontists do more than evaluate how straight teeth are. They also study how the teeth, jaws, palate, and bite develop as a child grows.
The palate, or roof of the mouth, is also the floor of the nasal cavity. The growth and position of the upper jaw and palate help shape the surrounding space, including the space where the airway sits. That’s one reason jaw and palate development can be relevant when a family has questions about breathing.
An orthodontist can evaluate dental and jaw development, identify concerns that may benefit from orthodontic care, and discuss appropriate next steps. Depending on the findings, those steps might include monitoring growth, considering orthodontic treatment, or recommending an evaluation with another healthcare professional.
Airway health is a team effort. A pediatrician, ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT), allergist, or sleep physician may be needed to investigate symptoms and diagnose or manage medical conditions. Each professional has a different role, and orthodontic care may be one part of a broader plan when appropriate.
At Hidden Valley Orthodontics, our approach is individualized: we want families to understand what we’re seeing, what it may mean, and which next steps are appropriate for their child.
There isn’t one orthodontic approach for every child with questions about breathing or jaw development. Recommendations depend on the child’s age, growth, bite, and individual evaluation.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that kids see an orthodontist for an initial evaluation around age 7. This is because it can be easier to address developmental concerns while their jaws and bite are still developing. If a specific concern is identified, active early treatment may help address certain bite- or jaw-development issues. Other children may be better served by monitoring their growth and waiting until the timing is right. Dr. Fortney is careful about recommending two-phase treatment, and more than 90% of our patients are treated in one step.
For children who are not ready for treatment, Hidden Valley Orthodontics offers the HVO Kids Club, which has more than 750 members. At those visits, Dr. Fortney tracks dental development, watches for breathing habits like mouth breathing, and identifies the right time to revisit orthodontic needs.
Every child develops differently. An orthodontic consultation is an opportunity to discuss your concerns, learn what the examination shows, and understand your options, without assuming treatment is necessary.
The first step is a conversation about what you’ve noticed and an examination of your child’s orthodontic development. The goal is to understand the concern, explain the findings, and determine which next step makes sense. Airway screening is part of every new-patient exam at HVO.
We’ll discuss the symptoms or changes you’ve noticed, your child’s dental and orthodontic history, and any relevant concerns you share about sleep or breathing. Our team can talk with you in English or Spanish.
Dr. Fortney, who lectures locally and nationally to fellow orthodontists on obstructive sleep apnea, will examine your child’s teeth, bite, and facial and jaw development, and check for a tongue-tie. When it’s helpful, she’ll take a low-radiation 3D X-ray in our office. It shows the airway, nasal passages, tonsils, and adenoids, which helps her decide whether your pediatrician or an ENT should take a closer look.
Depending on the findings, the recommendation may be to begin orthodontic treatment, monitor growth, or seek an evaluation from a pediatrician, ENT, sleep physician, or another appropriate healthcare professional. If orthodontic treatment is recommended, the timeline will depend on the treatment plan and your child’s development. Growth-related orthodontic treatment typically unfolds over months, with the exact timing varying from one patient to another.
We want families to understand the financial side of orthodontic care before making a decision. Hidden Valley Orthodontics offers all-inclusive treatment pricing and in-house, interest-free payment plans, so there’s no third-party lender or credit approval involved. Your first visit, including the airway screening, is free.
We accept most insurance plans, including many PPO and all indemnity plans, and our team will help you file claims and make the most of your orthodontic benefits. Payments can also be arranged around an FSA or HSA.
Explore our Financing & Insurance Information Page, or contact our team with questions about your options.
Orthodontic care can address certain concerns involving tooth position, bite, and jaw or palate development. It cannot diagnose or treat every condition that may affect a child’s breathing.
An orthodontist does not diagnose or manage sleep apnea, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies, or other medical conditions. Those concerns require evaluation by the appropriate medical professional. Orthodontic treatment may support jaw and palate development in selected cases, but it is not a cure for sleep apnea or a guarantee of improved breathing or sleep.
When an evaluation raises concerns outside the scope of orthodontics, we may recommend that a family speak with a pediatrician, ENT, sleep physician, or another qualified professional. Depending on the individual concern, a myofunctional or speech therapist may also be involved in care.
A referral is part of responsible care. It helps families connect with the right professional so that each concern can be evaluated by someone qualified to address it. When appropriate, orthodontic care and medical care can work alongside one another.
Our goal is to provide clear information, recommend orthodontic treatment when it is appropriate, and help families understand when another evaluation may be needed.
Parents in Escondido and San Marcos often write that Dr. Fortney took time to walk them through each step and answer their questions, starting at the very first visit. Many mention how quickly their kids felt at ease with the team, from the front desk to the X-ray technician. Some of those families are now bringing in a younger sibling after an older child finished treatment.
Hidden Valley Orthodontics evaluates orthodontic factors involving jaw and palate development that may be relevant to airway concerns. That said, sleep apnea is a medical condition diagnosed and managed by qualified healthcare professionals, and orthodontic treatment is not a stand-alone cure. When appropriate, we coordinate with a patient’s medical team.
You can schedule an orthodontic evaluation to discuss whether your child’s dental or jaw development may be relevant to your concerns. Snoring and mouth breathing can have many causes, so a pediatrician’s evaluation may also be appropriate, either before or alongside an orthodontic consultation.
No. You can schedule an evaluation directly with our Escondido or San Marcos office. If your child already sees a pediatrician or ENT, we’re glad to share what we find and coordinate with them.
Palatal expansion is an orthodontic treatment that gradually widens the upper jaw using an appliance. It may be recommended for certain children with a narrow upper jaw or specific bite concerns, depending on their growth and examination findings. It is not appropriate for every child and should not be presented as a guaranteed treatment for breathing problems or sleep apnea.
If you have questions about your child’s jaw development, bite, or possible airway-related concerns, we’re here to help you understand your options. An evaluation is a chance to get answers and talk through next steps, with no commitment to begin treatment. Hidden Valley Orthodontics welcomes families at our Escondido and San Marcos locations.
