Epigenetic Orthodontics By Dr. Nishita Ondhia

As an airway dentist, our focus is to assess breathing problems by examining the structure and function of the mouth, jaw and nasal passages.  The tools we use to provide treatment options include dental appliances, orthodontics, myofunctional therapy and most exciting is epigenetic orthodontics

What is Epigenetic Orthodontics?  It is early interventional orthodontic therapy to promote optimal growth of the mouth and face to address the underlying deficient anatomy of the airway.  It is a treatment method used to guide the growth of your face.

What?!!

Fact.  If the tongue is functioning properly, it will guide the growth of your face.  The tongue is your life long orthodontist and retainer; when it correctly sits at the roof of the mouth and one swallows properly, it expands the palate naturally during growth.  The tongue drives the growth of the maxilla, increase arch length making room for all the adult teeth to erupt with space and allowing the mandible to swing forward creating good jaw relationships.

When this natural system is off track, an Airway Dentist can help by guiding craniofacial growth, optimizing the growth of the mouth and the face.  In effect, we are assisting in building the foundation, the anatomy, of the airway.

The system is off-track if we are mouth breathing; the goal is to breathe via our noses.

The nasal cavity is triangular, the base of the triangle is the floor of the nose – it is also the roof of the mouth!  By expanding the palate, we increase the size of the floor of the nose and widen the sides of the maxilla, thereby increasing the size of the nasal cavity, decreasing the resistance to airflow.  Our end goal as an airway dentist is always to promote nasal breathing.