Understanding Sleep Apnea & Sleep-Related Breathing Concerns

Sleep apnea is a medical condition in which breathing is repeatedly reduced or interrupted during sleep. It is typically evaluated and diagnosed with a sleep study ordered by a physician or sleep medicine provider.

People who are eventually diagnosed with sleep apnea often report concerns such as:

  • Loud or frequent snoring reported by a bed partner
  • Pauses in breathing during sleep observed by others
  • Waking feeling unrefreshed despite a full night in bed
  • Morning headaches, dry mouth, or difficulty concentrating

These examples are general information only and are not intended for diagnosis. If you suspect you may have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, you should consult your primary care provider, ENT, or a board-certified sleep physician.

How Airway Orthodontics Can Help Support Better Breathing

Airway-focused orthodontics looks at more than just straight teeth. It considers how jaw position, dental arches, and tongue space may influence the size and stability of the airway.

At Airway Orthodontics, our treatments are designed to:

  • Encourage healthy jaw development and positioning
  • Create adequate room for the tongue within the dental arches
  • Support nasal breathing instead of chronic mouth breathing
  • Promote facial balance that can contribute to long-term oral health

For patients who already have a sleep apnea diagnosis or are being evaluated by a physician, airway-focused orthodontic care can be an integral part of a comprehensive plan that may help support comfortable breathing and oral function.

We are careful not to claim that orthodontic treatment here “treats sleep apnea” or “resolves sleep apnea symptoms.” Instead, we focus on the structures we can influence, including the jaws, bite, tongue space, and airway-related development.

Important Disclaimer About Sleep Apnea

It is crucial to clearly define the role of our practice in addressing sleep apnea and other sleep-related breathing concerns.

We want every visitor to understand the following:

  • We do not diagnose sleep apnea or other medical sleep disorders.
  • We do not treat sleep apnea.
  • We do not provide oral appliance therapy or mandibular advancement devices for sleep apnea.
  • We do not manage or monitor medical sleep apnea treatment.

Our role is limited to:

  • Evaluating jaw growth, bite, and airway-related structures.
  • Providing airway-focused orthodontic treatment that can help support healthy breathing mechanics and tongue space.
  • Collaborating with your physician or sleep medicine team when appropriate.
  • All diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea must be managed by a qualified physician or sleep medicine provider.

Who Might Consider an Airway-Focused Orthodontic Evaluation?

Some patients come to us on their own after hearing about airway orthodontics. Others are referred by:

  • Physicians or sleep medicine providers
  • Pediatricians or family doctors
  • Dentists or other dental professionals

You may want to consider an airway-focused orthodontic evaluation if:

  • You have been told you might have sleep-related breathing issues and want to understand how your jaws and bite may be involved.
  • A physician has diagnosed you with sleep apnea, and you are curious how airway-centered orthodontic treatment can help support your overall breathing and oral function.
  • Your child has signs of airway or jaw development concerns and has been advised to see an orthodontic provider with an airway focus.

Again, this evaluation is not a sleep apnea evaluation or diagnosis. It is an orthodontic assessment of jaw growth, airway-related anatomy, and bite.

Our Role vs. Your Medical Team’s Role

Sleep apnea care is most effective when each provider stays within their training and scope. We take this very seriously.

Your Medical Team’s Role

Your physician or sleep medicine team is responsible for:

  • Evaluating symptoms that may be related to sleep apnea or other sleep disorders
  • Ordering and interpreting sleep studies
  • Making or ruling out a diagnosis of sleep apnea
  • Prescribing and managing medical treatments (such as CPAP or other therapies)
  • Monitoring your overall medical response to treatment over time

Our Orthodontic Role

Our orthodontic team focuses on:

  • Assessing jaw growth, dental arches, bite, and airway-related structures
  • Identifying orthodontic issues that can contribute to restricted tongue space or narrowed arches
  • Proposing orthodontic treatment plans that support healthier oral function and breathing patterns
  • Coordinating with your medical providers when appropriate, so that orthodontic care and medical care work together

We will not interpret sleep studies, alter medical prescriptions, or advise you to discontinue the use of medically prescribed devices. Those decisions should be made in consultation with your physician.

Common Sleep Apnea Treatment Options (Not Offered in Our Office)

Patients often ask us about different sleep apnea treatments they have heard of. The following list is provided only as general information and does not represent services we provide in our practice:

  • CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure): A machine that uses air pressure to help keep the airway open during sleep. CPAP and related devices are prescribed and managed by physicians or sleep medicine providers.
  • Oral Appliance Therapy / Mandibular Advancement Devices: Custom medical devices that reposition the lower jaw or tongue to help maintain a more open airway during sleep. These are typically provided and managed by professionals trained and authorized in oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea. Dr. Adair does not provide these devices for sleep apnea.
  • Surgical Treatments: Certain patients may be candidates for ENT, maxillofacial, or other surgical procedures. These are evaluated, recommended, and performed by surgeons and physicians—not in our orthodontic office.

If you have questions about which treatment is appropriate for you, that discussion must take place with your physician or sleep medicine provider, who is responsible for your sleep apnea care.

Where Airway Orthodontics Fits In

Airway-focused orthodontics can complement a physician-directed plan by improving the structures that influence breathing. While individual results vary, treatment here can:

  • Guide jaw development in growing children so there is more room for the tongue and airway structure.
  • Improve alignment of the bite, which can contribute to more stable oral function
  • Support nasal breathing habits by reducing crowding and helping optimize jaw position

These changes can help create a physical environment that is more supportive of healthy breathing. However, they are not a substitute for medical care when sleep apnea is present or suspected.

A Note About Myofunctional Therapy

Some patients ask about exercises for the tongue and facial muscles, often referred to as myofunctional therapy.

  • Our practice does not provide myofunctional therapy in-office.
  • However, myofunctional therapy can complement airway-focused orthodontics by helping strengthen oral muscles and support healthier breathing patterns.
  • When it is appropriate and in the patient’s best interest, we can recommend trusted myofunctional therapy providers so patients can pursue this supportive care outside our office.

What to Expect at an Airway-Focused Orthodontic Visit

An airway-focused orthodontic evaluation at Airway Orthodontics is designed to be detailed and educational.

Conversation and History

We will:

  • Discuss your dental and orthodontic history
  • Review any concerns you have related to breathing, jaw comfort, or previous treatments
  • Ask whether you have seen a physician or undergone any sleep-related evaluations

This discussion helps us understand how your airway and jaw concerns fit into your overall health picture.

Exam and Records

Our clinical assessment may include:

  • A thorough orthodontic exam
  • Evaluation of jaw position, dental arches, and tongue space
  • Appropriate imaging or records to better understand your jaw and airway-related anatomy

We use this information to determine whether airway-focused orthodontic care can help support your goals.

Clear, Honest Recommendations

After the evaluation, we will:

  • Explain our findings in straightforward language
  • Outline any orthodontic treatment options that may help support healthier airway-related structures
  • Emphasize the importance of continuing care with your physician for any diagnosed or suspected sleep apnea

If we believe additional medical evaluation is warranted, we will encourage you to follow up with your physician or a sleep medicine provider.

When to Talk to Your Physician First

If you are experiencing symptoms such as loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, or excessive daytime sleepiness, it is recommended that you consult your primary care provider or a sleep medicine specialist before making any decisions based solely on dental or orthodontic information.

Your physician can:

  • Decide whether a formal sleep evaluation or sleep study is needed
  • Provide or coordinate appropriate medical treatment
  • Help determine how airway-focused orthodontic care might fit into your overall health plan

Schedule an Airway-Focused Orthodontic Evaluation in Rocklin

If you or your child has been told there may be airway or sleep-related breathing concerns, and you want to better understand the jaw and orthodontic side of the picture, our team is here to help.

We will stay firmly within our role as an airway-focused orthodontic practice while collaborating respectfully with your medical providers. Our goal is to educate you, support healthy breathing mechanics through orthodontic care, and help you make informed decisions in collaboration with your healthcare team.

Contact Airway Orthodontics in Rocklin to schedule an airway-focused orthodontic evaluation and find out how orthodontic treatment can help support your long-term oral and airway health.