Why are we different?
The traditional approach to orthodontics is focused on straightening teeth with less regard to facial profile and harmony. However, this often requires pulling out several healthy adult teeth to create enough space just to straighten the others. This would also mean straightening teeth without regard for the facial appearance, facial profile and general health of the patient, most importantly, the patient’s airway.
Our qualified dentists have a different and healthier approach to crowded teeth. They don’t believe in taking teeth out to fit the jaw when the jaw can be slowly grown to be able to accommodate for all the teeth. Together with this, as the “gatekeepers” our dentists are the forefront to diagnosing any airway issues which affect sleep, the jaw joints (temporomandibular joint) and head and neck pain.
What is Airway Orthodontics?
Over the past 15 years, the insight into “crowded teeth” has led to a correlation between narrow jaws and the overall health and airways of our patient. No longer are we just focused on teeth and how they look aligned in the mouth. From a young age our dentists can now assess whether our children have airway and growth related issues through their integrative orthodontic philosophy.
What to look out for in the mouth?
Airway obstruction or Sleep disturbed breathing can have relative symptoms of the following in relation to the teeth:
- Crowded teeth
- Narrow Jaws
- Teeth Grinding
- Needs Braces
Signs of airway related issues?
Other related symptoms can include the following:
- Snoring
- Sleep Apnoea
- Sleep Walking
- Mouth Breathing
- Sleep talking
- Night Terrors
- Reflux
- Noisy Breathing
- Bed Wetting
- ADHD
Our Philosophy
Our goal is to make you healthy and create beautiful faces and smiles, not just straightening your teeth! This is achieved by undertaking a full 3D assessment of the head and neck which includes the facial profile, airways, TMJ, jaw size and positioning, tongue posture, tongue ties, swallow patterns and oral habits etc. Our final result is a fuller profile including more lip support and a bigger wider smile. What makes Dr Nicole Yuen unique is that he has the ability to treat airways, sleep conditions, TMJ, head, neck and orthodontic issues all together with her own team of health professionals and specialists.