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All of the above relate directly to dental conditions. Proper function of the airway is an absolute requirement for proper development of the teeth and jaws. Airway problems lead to dental crowding, overbites, crossbites, open bites, and more. It is a reciprocating arrangement.
Once the airway has compromised the dental form and function, the abnormal dental form and function maintains the abnormal airway function. Most airway problems are environmental, not genetic. This means that things in our life experience create the problem, like the foods we eat, the air we breathe. This also means that we can influence their development back to the way it was intended, if we do the right thing.
The first step is to open the airway. There are several areas that are capable of being treated. The first is the nasal passages. These are frequently compromised by the palate being pushed up into the nasal cavity as the arch form of the upper teeth narrows (from mouth breathing). Proper orthodontic treatment widens the arch form and drops the palate down, thereby enlarging the nasal passages.
The second area of airway that can be influenced is the area behind the tongue. This is the source of snoring and sleep apnea. It is caused by the jaw posturing too far back (too much overbite) which allows the tongue to posture too far back as well. The volume of space between the back of the tongue and the back of the throat is reduced and problems result.
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