Airway Focused Orthodontics
Breathe Deep. We’re here to help.
What is Airway Focused Orthodontics?
Integrative Orthodontics Is a complex practice philosophy where we look at the entirety of your health – not just your teeth. Sometimes referred to as “airway focused” orthodontics, we take it a step further.
Our doctors will evaluate your nasal and oropharyngeal airways and recommend a treatment plan that will provide a more ideal airway function. We work with a team of talented professionals who specialize in different necessary therapies to maximize your health.
Restoring Balance for Optimal Dental Health
Scientific evidence indicates that there are no genes specifically responsible for crooked teeth. Instead, our bodies respond to stressors from modern diets, lifestyles, and industrial environments. These responses have a genetic component, which is why family members often share similar appearances.
Crooked teeth and misaligned jaws are signs of significant issues that our brain and bodies are attempting to cope with.
What Do I do Now?
At the Centre for Integrative Orthodontics we evaluate and address the negative changes in our facial development, we can restore balance and eliminate deficiencies in facial growth and airway development, allowing teeth to align properly. This is the essence of Integrative Orthodontics (IO).
Book with us today and take control of your airways.
Take Control
Dr. Ed Lipskis and his team at The Centre for Integrative Orthodontics have been helping patients for over 20 years. They specialize in non-surgical treatments for airway-related issues such as obstructive sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and other related conditions.
With over 25 years of experience, they focus on identifying and treating the underlying causes of these airway issues to improve breathing function and overall quality of life.
Symptoms and Consequences
People with bad airways often experience anxiety and other symptoms. Untreated, these issues can cause severe complications and impact mental health. Poor airway function is strongly linked to sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea.
Example of Good Airway
Example of Bad Airway
Consequences of No Treatment
- ADHD like symptoms
- Increasing tooth crowding
- Scoliosis
- Chronic Pain issues
- Anxiety or Depression
- Abnormal facial growth and deformity
- Periodontal disease
- Loss of ability to chew correctly
- Increased pain of face, jaw or neck
- Poor nasal breathing
- Asthma
- Cognitive Impairment
- Development of OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea)
Symptoms We Treat
- Crooked teeth
- Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Mouth Breathing
- Forward Head Posture
- Pseudo or misdiagnosed ADHD
- Orthodontic Relapse cases
- Abnormal facial growth/development
- Tongue Ties
- “I just don’t like my smile”
- TMJ issues not resolved with appliances
Talk With A Specialist
We look forward to hearing from you
Benefits of Airway Orthodontics
Prevention
Helps to prevent deficient (or sometimes excess) facial growth, disturbed sleep and crooked teeth, if started early, by restoring airways, balancing facial structural growth, and restoring normal functional patterns. These issues affect the entire body and can even disturb normal cognitive development.
Health
We don’t just treat symptoms; we address the root causes of your child’s issues. Improper head postures, due to inadequate airways, affect overall body posture. These won’t normalize until airways are structurally improved, which we achieve non-surgically using gentle orthodontic techniques.
Facial Growth
The shape of the face affects our appearance, our teeth, and our breathing passages, day and night. We influence and change facial growth from the beginning, so children receive health and aesthetic benefits for life. These changes can also be made in adults.
Integrative
Using varied “in house” and referred healthcare providers, we address multiple aspects of good health. These include tongue posture, breathing, eating, body posture, airways, and sleep. We create beautiful smiles AND more balanced attractive faces.
Orthodontic Treatment Options
Treatment for Adults
Overcoming Skeletal and Airway Deficiencies
Adults may believe their orthodontic options are limited due to the cessation of facial growth. However, Dr. Lipskis has developed techniques that use gentle forces to grow new bone and correct skeletal and airway deficiencies, enhancing facial aesthetics and achieving a beautiful smile, even in adulthood.
Clear/Tooth-Colored Braces
Clear or tooth-colored braces are viable options for adults seeking discreet orthodontic treatment. These braces can effectively address various dental issues while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance during the treatment process.
Invisalign and Simpler Dental Corrections
Dr. Lipskis is certified in Invisalign, which is ideal for simpler dental corrections or for patients who have experienced teeth shifting after previous orthodontic treatment. Invisalign provides a convenient and less invasive option for achieving cosmetic and hygiene improvements.
Treatment for Children
Addressing Impaired Breathing and OSA
Orthodontic treatment focusing on correcting impaired breathing is crucial for children who snore or have sleep apnea. Studies show that 70% of children who snore have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which is often misdiagnosed as ADHD. Early intervention can prevent these issues and avoid unnecessary medication.
Intercepting Abnormal Growth Patterns
Dr. Lipskis can evaluate and intercept abnormal growth patterns caused by disturbed breathing patterns, such as mouth breathing. Early correction of skeletal development deficiencies helps guide children to grow in the most favorable manner.
Promoting Optimal Development
Our treatment aims to provide the best opportunity for ideal balance, posture, internal wellness, and unimpeded cognitive development. Early intervention ensures that children achieve optimal growth and development, both physically and cognitively.
Why Choose Us Over Traditional Orthodontics?
More Than Just a Great Smile
A great smile shouldn’t be the only goal for orthodontic treatment. Along with achieving that amazing smile, there should also be the understanding that orthodontic treatment can and should be you or your child’s best opportunity for the longest possible, healthy, pain-free life.
Tailored Treatment for Optimal Health
Thoughtful, in-depth analysis of you or your child’s anatomy, breathing, physiology, and neurology is the only way to accurately plan for the best treatment options. Straightening teeth and making a beautiful smile is the easy part and is usually the only thing considered in traditional orthodontic treatment.
Beyond Traditional Orthodontics
Skeletal changes that are actually needed are usually not found in most traditional orthodontic treatment. Conventional orthodontic treatment plans do not account for proper breathing, improvements in posture and in the spine, along with the neurological balance and muscle function that are necessary to ensure whole body Beyond Traditional Orthodontics
The Myobrace™️ System
The earlier treatment starts, the less costly and more conservative overall treatment can be. In fact, most kids that start treatment early, DO NOT NEED “BRACES.”
The Myobrace® System uses removable oral appliances called “Trainers” and Myofunctional Training Exercises. It addresses the underlying issues causing crooked teeth and narrow palates, resulting in a beautiful smile and a healthy body.
- Uses light forces to naturally align the teeth and re-train the oral-facial muscles to function properly
- Unlike traditional orthodontics, Myobrace® is not worn all the time
- Allows patients to easily brush and floss your teeth
- No dietary restrictions
- Teaches proper nasal breathing, proper tongue placement and correct swallowing patterns
- Encourages proper airway development
Airway-centered orthodontic treatments and myofunctional training promote proper nasal breathing, lip seal, tongue position, and swallowing patterns. These treatments also address sleep disorders like snoring and sleep apnea.
Benefits of the Myobrace System
Myobrace® Usage and Wearing Schedule
Children can use the Myobrace while they still have baby teeth. Myobrace® removable orthodontic “trainers” need to be worn for 1-2 hours during the day and while sleeping at night, EVERYDAY for effective treatment.
Types and Functions of Myobrace® Trainers
The Myobrace® trainers are a series of 3 different trainers (4 in the Teen Series) that work on habit correction, jaw expansion, and retention. They are specially sized and designed based on your child’s age and treatment needs. The trainers work to develop the jaws, open the airway, and move teeth into proper alignment.
Combined with Exercises for Effective Treatment
The Myobrace® appliance is used together with daily breathing, tongue, and facial exercises to create new muscle memory patterns, correct poor myofunctional habits, and establish healthy nasal breathing.
Contact Us
Phone
(630) 762-8700
Fax
Address
700 East Main Street
Suite E
St. Charles, IL 60174
Hours of Operation
Monday - Wednesday: 8-6 PM
Thursday - Friday: Closed