Orthodontic care that looks at how your child breathes and sleeps, not just how their smile lines up.
Airway orthodontics is orthodontic care that considers how the teeth, jaws and palate affect breathing, sleep and facial growth. At DiFranco Orthodontics in Park Ridge, IL, our orthodontists screen for breathing-related warning signs at every evaluation. When a narrow upper jaw, crossbite, crowding or a recessed lower jaw may be contributing to mouth breathing or snoring, we can widen the palate, guide jaw growth and correct the bite, and we coordinate with your pediatrician, ENT or sleep physician for anything that needs a medical diagnosis.
Airway orthodontics, sometimes called airway-focused orthodontics, is a way of practicing orthodontics that pays attention to breathing along with bite and alignment.
The upper jaw is more than the base of the upper teeth. It also forms the floor of the nose and the roof of the mouth, and its width affects how much room the tongue has to rest. When the upper jaw is narrow or the lower jaw sits too far back, the teeth may crowd, the bite may not fit, and the space for the tongue and airway may be more limited.
For Park Ridge families, that means our orthodontists ask breathing and sleep questions as a routine part of your visit, not as an add-on. If we see orthodontic problems that are commonly linked to mouth breathing or snoring, we explain what we found, what orthodontic treatment can and cannot do, and when another specialist should be involved*.
*Orthodontic treatment does not diagnose or cure sleep apnea. A physician diagnoses sleep-disordered breathing, usually with a sleep study. Our role is to spot the warning signs, treat the jaw and bite problems we are trained to correct, and work alongside your child’s medical team.
The roof of the mouth and the floor of the nasal cavity are the same structure. A narrow, high palate often goes hand in hand with a crossbite and crowded upper teeth. In growing children, the upper jaw is still made of two halves joined by a flexible growth seam, which is why a palatal expander can widen it gently before that seam fuses in the teen years.
When a child breathes through the nose, the lips stay closed and the tongue rests up against the palate, supporting its natural width. When a child breathes through the mouth, the tongue tends to sit low and forward. Over time, that pattern can be associated with a narrow upper arch, an open bite or a tongue thrust.
A lower jaw that sits far behind the upper jaw creates a large overbite (overjet) and can reduce the space behind the tongue. In growing patients, orthodontic appliances can guide the lower jaw into a better relationship with the upper jaw. In adults, when jaw size or position is the core problem, surgical orthodontics may be the right path.
Many parents first notice breathing problems at night or in their child’s bite. Schedule an evaluation if your child has any of these signs:
If your child stops breathing, gasps or chokes during sleep, talk to your pediatrician promptly. Those signs need a medical evaluation, and we are happy to coordinate orthodontic care once your child’s physician has weighed in.
Adults and teens can have the same orthodontic patterns that children do. Snoring, waking up unrefreshed, clenching or grinding, a narrow arch, crowding and a retruded lower jaw are all worth mentioning at your visit. We will look at the orthodontic side and recommend a sleep physician if your symptoms point toward a sleep-breathing disorder.
How Chicago-Area Allergies Lead to Mouth Breathing in Kids
Chicago’s northwest suburbs have long allergy seasons. Tree pollen builds in spring, grass pollen follows in early summer, and ragweed lingers from late summer until the first frost. Then the heating season arrives, and months of forced-air heat dry out indoor air. For many Park Ridge children, that adds up to a stuffy nose for much of the year, and a stuffy nose makes mouth breathing easy to fall into.
Occasional mouth breathing during a cold is normal. A mouth-breathing habit that continues for months or years in a growing child is different because it can change where the tongue rests and how the upper jaw develops. That is why our evaluation asks about allergies, congestion and sleep, and why we may suggest a visit with your pediatrician, an allergist or an ENT to address the nose and throat while we address the jaws and bite.
Families here also have strong medical resources close to home, including Advocate Lutheran General Hospital on Dempster Street, so it is usually easy to coordinate care with the ENT, sleep medicine or allergy specialist your family already sees.
Every orthodontic assessment at our Park Ridge office includes an airway screening. Here is how the visit works:
Airway size on an image alone cannot diagnose a sleep-breathing problem. That is why our evaluation focuses on the orthodontic factors we can treat, and why we make sure the right physician evaluates anything beyond them.
The right treatment depends on age, growth stage, bite and what your child’s physician has found. These are the tools our orthodontists use most often:
| Treatment | Best suited for | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Palatal expander | Growing children and younger teens | Gradually widens a narrow upper jaw and corrects crossbites |
| Clear aligners | Children about 6 to 10 | Removable clear aligners that develop the arches during early treatment |
| Bite correctors | Growing patients with a large overbite | Guide the lower jaw into a better position relative to the upper jaw< |
| Phase 1 braces and space maintainers | Children with mixed baby and adult teeth | Align key teeth and hold space while the jaws grow |
| Self-ligating braces | Teens and adults in full treatment | Low-friction brackets that align teeth and finish the bite |
| Surgical orthodontics | Adults with jaw size or position problems | Braces combined with jaw surgery by an oral surgeon |
A palatal expander is a custom appliance that fits against the roof of the mouth and widens the upper jaw a tiny amount at a time. Active expansion usually takes a few weeks, and the expander then stays in place for several months while new bone fills in.
Expansion is most effective before the growth seam in the palate fuses, which is one reason early evaluation matters. It creates room for crowded teeth, corrects crossbites and gives the tongue more space to rest in the palate. For some children with a narrow upper jaw and physician-diagnosed sleep-disordered breathing, expansion is one part of a coordinated treatment plan.
Invisalign® First treatment for children uses removable clear aligners designed for kids with a mix of baby and permanent teeth. It can develop the arches and address crowding and spacing during Phase 1, and it lets children brush and floss normally.
When a large overbite comes from a lower jaw that sits too far back, a bite corrector can encourage a better jaw relationship while a child or teen is still growing. Correcting the bite during growth can make later treatment simpler and improve the balance of the profile.
Our children’s orthodontics and Phase 1 treatment typically lasts 12 to 18 months. It can combine expanders, space maintainers and limited braces to correct bite problems before all permanent teeth arrive, which often makes Phase 2 treatment shorter and easier.
Once the permanent teeth are in, metal braces for kids, teens and adults, clear ceramic braces or Invisalign® clear aligner treatment finish the alignment and bite. Our self-ligating bracket systems reduce friction so teeth can move efficiently and comfortably.
Adults no longer have a growing jaw, so the upper jaw cannot be widened the way a child’s can with a standard expander. When jaw size or position is the main problem, surgical orthodontics in Park Ridge combines braces with corrective jaw surgery performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
For adults with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, jaw surgery may be one option a sleep physician and surgeon consider, and we handle the orthodontic preparation and finishing.
Breathing problems often have more than one cause. Depending on what we find, we may recommend your pediatrician, an ENT for tonsils, adenoids or nasal blockage, an allergist, a sleep physician, a speech-language pathologist or a myofunctional therapist for tongue and lip habits. We share records and timing with your child’s care team so every piece of the plan fits together.
Airway orthodontics is not only for kids. Many adult orthodontic patients in Park Ridge come to us with crowding, a narrow arch or a retruded jaw alongside snoring or poor sleep. Orthodontic treatment can align the teeth, coordinate the arches and correct the bite. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, your sleep physician leads that treatment, which may include CPAP or an oral appliance made by a dentist trained in dental sleep medicine. We can plan orthodontic care around those treatments so they work together.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child see an orthodontist by age 7. At that age, the upper jaw is still growing and responds well to expansion, and early problems such as crossbites, crowding and oral habits are easier to spot. Many children do not need treatment right away. For them, our growth observation program checks in every 6 to 12 months so treatment can begin at the ideal moment, if it is needed at all.
The best time to widen a narrow upper jaw is while a child is still growing. An evaluation at age 7 gives parents a clear picture and plenty of time to plan.
Airway screening is only as good as the clinician doing it. Your evaluation is performed by an orthodontic specialist who completed advanced training in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics after dental school, the discipline focused on guiding jaw growth and bite development.
Dr. DiFranco earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and his orthodontic specialty certificate from Loyola University School of Dentistry and has practiced orthodontics since 1985. He grew up in Park Ridge and is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Illinois Society of Orthodontists, the Chicago Dental Society and the American Dental Association. Decades of watching local children grow give him a long-view perspective on how early jaw development shapes the adult smile.
Dr. Souman earned his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, practiced as a general dentist, then completed his residency in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics along with a Master of Science at Loma Linda University. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics and is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, the Illinois State Dental Society and the Chicago Dental Society.
Dr. Rakstang earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and his Certificate in Orthodontics from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, after a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Colorado Boulder. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the Midwestern Society of Orthodontists.
Meet all of our Park Ridge orthodontists to learn more about the team.
The cost of airway orthodontic treatment depends on age, the appliances needed and how long treatment lasts. A palatal expander used during Phase 1 costs far less than comprehensive braces, and early treatment can shorten or simplify the treatment that follows. You will receive a written estimate before anything begins.
See our orthodontic insurance and financing options for details.
DiFranco Orthodontics is located at 401 W. Talcott Rd. in Park Ridge, a short drive for families in Des Plaines, Edison Park, Norridge, Harwood Heights and Rosemont. Our office is open Monday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Thursday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with administrative hours Friday and Saturday morning, so appointments fit around school and work.
If your child snores, breathes through the mouth or has a narrow, crowded smile, an evaluation will give you clear answers and a plan. Call or text (847) 318-7711, request your airway evaluation at DiFranco Orthodontics, or see what happens at your first orthodontic visit. The assessment is complimentary for patients 18 and under.
All of the associates at DiFranco orthodontics are friendly and caring.. The attention they give to patients is top notch .
Dr. Omar was fabulous, a true perfectionist! Michelle and the full staff for every appointment were friendly & kind, making the experience as easy as possible.
I really like DiFranco’s Orthodontist. Everyone there is really nice and always makes me feel comfortable when I come in. They explain everything really well and are always helpful if I have questio... Read More
All of the associates at DiFranco orthodontics are friendly and caring.. The attention they give to patients is top notch .
Dr. Omar was fabulous, a true perfectionist! Michelle and the full staff for every appointment were friendly & kind, making the experience as easy as possible.
I really like DiFranco’s Orthodontist. Everyone there is really nice and always makes me feel comfortable when I come in. They explain everything really well and are always helpful if I have questions. My appointments are always pretty easy and I have had a really good experience here. I would definitely recommend them!
