Airway Architecture

AIRWAY ARCHITECTURE

Airway Architecture for Optimal Breathing and a Better Health

You wouldn’t build a house without an architect, planning, and a strong foundation because it would collapse—your airway is no different. Your airway anatomy (the bones of the midface, skull base, upper cervical vertebrae, and surrounding soft tissues) plays a critical role in how you breathe—or don’t. Whatever the cause, impaired anatomy contributes to turbulent airflow and airway collapse, which limits oxygen to the brain and body. This produces excess cortisol, adrenal fatigue, and over-stimulation of the nervous system, resulting in life-long neurologic deficits, poor appearance, with links to TMJ and cardiovascular disease— essentially not a qualitative life at all.

Airway architecture includes all structures creating the “tube” through which we breathe—starting at the tip of the nose, between the tonsils and adenoids, behind the soft palate, jaws & tongue, the upper cervical vertebrae, and the cranial (skull) base. The face and airway we have may not be the face that our genetics were meant to give us. This is due to modern factors like soft diets, indoor living, toxins, tongue-tie, birth trauma, and more—and cardiovascular disease.

Our Principles based on years of experience

At AirSync, Dr. Kimberly is your Airway Architect, helping infants, children, and adults build or rebuild optimal airway function and avoid life-long consequences of dysfunctional breathing. Our comprehensive approach evaluates every contributing factor, restoring healthy airway architecture, facial development, and breathing for life. It’s never too early—or too late—to choose optimal breathing.

Assessments

Full craniofacial structural assessment – orthopedic and orthodontic, as well as verifying there are no active cavities or gum disease.
Muscle testing and functional tissue analysis to assess for things like tongue tie or lip tethering, tissues that are restricting optimal movement and function.
Thorough TMJ examination.
Clinical airway analysis.
4-Phase Rhinomanometry to precisely pinpoint the airway obstructions and validate what structures need optimization.
Postural photos and assessment to determine asymmetries and compromises.
Facial photos for strategic structural treatment planning and timing.

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3-D analyses and planning using CBCT technology to assess symmetry, cranial bone position and alignment, enlarged adenoids and tonsils, stretched soft palate, nasal and sinus anatomy, TMJ anatomy, alignment of the upper cervical vertebrae, as well as to take precise measurements for optimal architectural treatment planning.
Digital impression of the mouth.

Treatments

Cranial and upper neck alignment with Collaborative Partners and potential cranial alignment appliances.
TMJ treatments as needed (orthotics, Exomind, Emface, SONU, and others).
Jaw remodeling, growth guidance and orthodontics in 3-D – building optimal jaws, nasal anatomy, tongue space, beautiful and balanced faces, broad smiles, functional and healthy TMJs and thus, improved airway function:
- Nuvola cranial clear aligners
- 3-D cemented expanders
- The Modified Witzig – pediatric cranial and forward growth appliance.
- Removable biobloc expanders
- Clear Aligners with Invisalign and CandidPro.
- Homeoblock and intra-oral splints (POD appliance).

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Custom MARPEs for 3-D control of the width, forward and vertical dimension. SFOT (surgically facilitated orthodontic treatment)
- Facemasks and other appliances to manage forward growth and position of the upper jaw.
- MyoBrace, a removable device that trains proper breathing, tongue posture, and swallowing while guiding jaw growth for naturally straight teeth.
- MyoMunchee, a toddler chewing tool that enhances the strength of jaw and mouth muscles to assist in optimal oral health and function.
Advanced orthodontic planning and treatment to ensure optimally developed jaws, especially after MARPE expansion.
Referrals to select jaw surgeons and specific orthodontic partners as needed.
BabyLase, OraLase and NightLase.
Nonsurgical tongue-tie releases.
Functional Frenuloplasty (developed by The Breathe Institute), the ONLY technique to surgically treat a tongue-tie.
Emface nonsurgical face and tissue lifting.
Oxidative Therapy to detox and heal inflamed airway tissues.
Myofunctional therapy.

Outcomes

A functional nose that works!
Reduction or elimination of snoring.
Reduction and hopefully elimination of sleep apnea.
More balanced appearance – healthy and beautiful faces, the way nature and genetics intended.
A tongue that has space, can function properly and stay out of the airway.
Improvements in brain and organ functions because they are getting adequate oxygen and being cleaned of toxic build-up.
Enhanced mental wellness, improvements with behavioral problems, ADHD/ADD, emotional regulation, anxiety, depression and dementia.
In infants & children, optimized cognitive and brain development.

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Fewer illnesses such as recurring ear infections, common colds, sinus infections, and asthma.
Lower risk of surgical intervention in children like ear tube placement, tonsil and adenoid removal.
Higher functioning, better school or work performance, easier social interaction, and improved athletic performance.
End to mouth breathing and its related dental complications, like dry mouth, bad breath, gum disease, and cavities.
Better latching for breastfeeding, improved overall function with optimized feeding and swallowing, improved reflux (colic), calmer baby and happy parents.
Straighter teeth with less invasive orthodontic treatment when all the adult teeth arrive.

Treatments and Tools to Optimize Sleep and Breathing

At AirSync, Dr. Kimberly Santiago and her team have the latest and most comprehensive technology, offering the most precise, gentle, synergistic, and effective diagnostic and treatment tools and therapies. Our thorough study and understanding of our patients leads to the best possible long-term outcomes. For details on treatments/tools not explained, just click the box below to visit our tools and treatment page. We also have an excellent referral network when work outside of our practice scope is necessary.

Case Study / Infant

There are physical, genetic, psychological and physiological contributions to interrupted sleep and apnea. Through a holistic evaluation and testing, we look at the root causes and provide solutions to optimize sleep and improve your physical and mental functioning.