Airway Specialists
More than straight teeth, A holistic approach
About us
What sets us apart
What Makes A Beautiful Smile?
Healthy Airway
Natural Results
Healthy Foundations
Functional Bite
Facial Harmony
Long-Term Stability
Early Orthodontics & Airway Development
A narrow or restricted airway can have a major impact on a child’s overall health and development—and it’s something that often goes unnoticed. That’s why Dr. Vakili carefully evaluates the airway of every young patient using our advanced Vatech Green 3D CBCT xray machine. This low-radiation technology provides detailed, three-dimensional images of the airway, nasal passages, and jaw structure, allowing for a more complete understanding of how a child is growing.
For children under 12 who show signs of airway restriction, Dr. Vakili may recommend early (Phase I) orthodontic treatment. This proactive approach guides proper jaw development, gently expands the palate, and creates space for incoming permanent teeth while also supporting healthier breathing. While orthodontic treatment can play an important role in supporting airway development, airway health is complex. In some cases, Dr. Vakili may recommend collaboration with your child’s pediatrician, ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or sleep physician to ensure comprehensive care. By addressing these concerns early, we can help reduce the risk of future issues such as obstructive sleep apnea, chronic mouth breathing, and poor sleep quality.
Signs Your Child May Have a Constricted or Underdeveloped Airway
- Snoring or noisy breathing at night
- Mouth breathing during the day or while sleeping
- Teeth grinding (bruxism)
- Bedwetting beyond the typical age
- Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
- Frequent mood swings or behavioral issues
Early intervention works best when treatment aligns with a child’s natural growth and development. By identifying and addressing airway concerns early, we can often reduce the risk of more serious issues later on—helping your child breathe more easily, sleep more soundly, and thrive both now and in the future.
Airway specialists
Creating Space for Healthy Growth, Breathing, and Beautiful Smiles
At Santa Rosa Orthodontics, we believe early intervention can be truly life-changing. By addressing growth and development at the right time, we can do more than straighten teeth—we can help support a child’s overall health and well-being.A narrow upper jaw often goes hand in hand with a restricted nasal airway. That’s why we view expanders and MARPE as more than orthodontic appliances—they’re powerful tools for supporting healthier breathing, improved sleep, and overall wellness.
That’s why we use advanced expanders and MARPE (Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) to gently create space in the jaws and airway. These treatments are designed to improve breathing, encourage balanced facial development, and lay the foundation for a healthy, confident smile that lasts well beyond orthodontic treatment.
A palatal expander is a gentle orthodontic appliance designed to widen the upper jaw. This treatment is most effective for children and pre-teens, when the jaw is still growing and more responsive to guidance. By gradually expanding the upper jaw, we can create the space needed for healthy development and improved function.
Palatal expansion helps relieve crowding, supports proper alignment of incoming teeth, and allows the upper and lower jaws to fit together more comfortably. Just as importantly, it can improve the airway and nasal breathing while promoting balanced facial growth—setting the stage for both better health and a confident smile.
MARPE (Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) is an advanced, non-surgical treatment option designed for teens and adults when traditional expanders are no longer effective. It uses small, temporary anchorage devices (TADs) to deliver expansion forces directly to the mid-palatal suture, allowing the upper jaw to widen even after natural growth has slowed.
MARPE is often recommended for patients with a narrow upper jaw, limited expansion potential due to age, or signs of airway concerns such as mouth breathing or snoring. For many patients, it offers a powerful alternative to jaw surgery—improving alignment, supporting healthier breathing, and creating the space needed for long-term stability and comfort.
MARPE offers a non-surgical approach to widening the upper jaw, making it an effective solution for skeletal expansion in teens and adults. By improving the structure of the upper jaw, it can enhance nasal airflow and help reduce airway obstruction, supporting easier, healthier breathing.In many cases, MARPE also creates enough space to improve alignment without the need for future tooth extractions or more invasive jaw surgery—making it a proactive option with long-term benefits for both function and comfort.
Airway-Focused Expansion
A narrow or restricted airway can have a major impact on a child’s overall health and development—and it’s something that often goes unnoticed. That’s why Dr. Ava carefully evaluates the airway of every young patient using our advanced Vatech Green X21 3D CBCT scanner. This low-radiation technology provides detailed, three-dimensional images of the airway, nasal passages, and jaw structure, allowing for a more complete understanding of how a child is growing.
For children under 12 who show signs of airway restriction, Dr. Vakili may recommend early (Phase I) orthodontic treatment. This proactive approach guides proper jaw development, gently expands the palate, and creates space for incoming permanent teeth while also supporting healthier breathing. By addressing these concerns early, we can help reduce the risk of future issues such as obstructive sleep apnea, chronic mouth breathing, and poor sleep quality.
RPE (Rapid Palatal Expansion) is typically used in younger patients whose palatal suture is still open and responsive to growth. In contrast, MARPE (Mini-Implant Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) is designed for more skeletally mature adolescents and adults, where the suture has become more resistant to traditional expansion. By using temporary anchorage screws, MARPE allows for more true skeletal expansion with fewer unwanted dental side effects, making it an excellent option for patients who are no longer in their peak growth phase.
Review of breathing and sleep symptoms
Growth and jaw development assessment
3D CBCT imaging when appropriate
Personalized recommendations for expansion or Phase I treatment
Myofunctional therapy focuses on improving how the muscles of the face, tongue, lips, and airway function. It helps establish healthy habits such as proper tongue posture, nasal breathing, and balanced muscle use, which are essential for facial growth, airway health, and long-term orthodontic stability.
In airway- and growth-focused orthodontics, we look beyond straight teeth. Muscle patterns like mouth breathing, low tongue posture, or an improper swallow can influence jaw development, sleep quality, and how well orthodontic results hold over time. Myofunctional therapy helps address these underlying functional patterns.
When appropriate, we work collaboratively with trusted myofunctional therapists to support optimal outcomes before, during, or after orthodontic treatment. We frequently collaborate with local myofunctional therapists: Lily Manspeeker and Kim Borba, who share our airway-centered, growth-guided philosophy and help ensure care is coordinated and individualized for each patient.
Airway-Focused Orthodontics at Santa Rosa Orthodontics
At Santa Rosa Orthodontics, we believe a truly healthy smile begins with healthy breathing. That’s why we take an airway-focused approach to orthodontic care, with special attention to children and growing patients. By recognizing signs of airway concerns early, we can design personalized treatment plans that go beyond straightening teeth—supporting balanced facial development, better sleep, and long-term overall wellness.