Airway Treatment in Birmingham & Milford
Breathe Better With Airway Treatment
At Degenhardt Orthodontics, we take a thoughtful, non-invasive approach to airway health—offering evaluations and treatment that support better breathing, better sleep, and a healthier life.
Airway Expertise You Can Trust
Dr. Steve’s background in airway health began during his orthodontic residency, where he completed his master’s thesis on obstructive sleep apnea. This early focus gave him a deep understanding of how breathing, facial growth, and orthodontics intersect.
Continued Education in Breathing & Growth
He has since pursued extensive continuing education on airway-focused orthodontics, staying current with the latest research and treatment strategies that support healthier breathing for children and adults.
Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Care
To provide the most comprehensive evaluation possible, Dr. Steve works closely with a coordinated team that includes adult ENT specialists, pediatric ENTs, myofunctional therapists, pediatric dentists, and other healthcare partners.
This collaborative model ensures that every patient receives thoughtful, whole-health support designed to improve both breathing and long-term development.
Palatal Expansion for Airway Health
Airway health begins with structure. A narrow palate or underdeveloped jaw can affect how you breathe, sleep, and feel every day. We use orthopedic expansion to gently create more room in the airway—helping kids grow better and adults breathe easier.
Early intervention is especially powerful. In children, expansion can support nasal breathing, guide facial development, and reduce future risk of airway-related issues. We focus on pre-teens to take advantage of natural growth and minimize the need for more complex treatment later.
Adult Expansion
Palatal Expansion is also possible for adults. Using advanced techniques like MARPE (Mini-Implant Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) or SARPE (Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion), we can widen the upper jaw to support nasal airflow and make space for proper bite alignment.
Dr. Degenhardt works in coordination with local oral surgeons to deliver comfortable, effective care.
Breathing Well Starts Early
At Degenhardt Orthodontics, we evaluate every child’s airway as part of their orthodontic exam. Addressing sleep-disordered breathing early can support better sleep, healthier development, and improved day-to-day functioning.
Signs of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Kids
Many children with airway issues show symptoms that are easy to overlook. These can include snoring more than three nights a week, mouth breathing, gasping during sleep, or grinding their teeth. You might also notice dry mouth in the morning, restless sleep, or unusual sleeping positions—like their head arching back to open the airway.
Daytime symptoms may look like behavior problems or learning difficulties. Kids with compromised airways often struggle to focus, act out in school, or get labeled as lazy or inattentive. Other signs include frequent ear infections, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and bed-wetting beyond the typical age.
Treatment Options
Once an airway concern is identified, we focus on guiding growth in the right direction. Depending on your child’s needs, we may recommend maxillary expansion to widen the nasal airway or maxillary protraction to create space behind the upper jaw.
Myofunctional therapy may also help—retraining the tongue to rest in a healthier position to support ideal jaw growth. In some cases, we’ll refer to an ENT if enlarged tonsils or adenoids are contributing to the problem.
When to Schedule an Evaluation
If you’ve noticed signs of disrupted breathing or poor sleep, don’t wait. Airway issues caught early are easier to treat and can change the course of your child’s health and development.
At Degenhardt Orthodontics, airway exams are part of our standard evaluation—we don’t charge extra and we don’t over-recommend treatment. If there is an issue or. an indication for treatment, then Dr. Steve will walk you through the next steps.
Adult Airway Treatment
Many adults struggle with sleep apnea, snoring, or daytime fatigue—often caused by a narrow airway or poor jaw position. While devices like CPAP can treat symptoms, they don’t address the source of the problem.
At Degenhardt Orthodontics, we focus on long-term solutions. By expanding or repositioning the upper and lower jaws, we can improve airflow and reduce airway collapse. In some cases, this eliminates the need for sleep appliances altogether.
If you’ve been diagnosed with OSA or suspect your sleep could be better, we’ll work with your healthcare team to explore treatment options that improve your breathing and your quality of life.
Airway treatment is most effective when approached with a multi-disciplinary team. Dr. Steve collaborates with trusted specialists—including sleep medicine doctors, ENTs, general dentists, and others—to ensure each patient receives comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs.
Better Sleep Starts Here
We don’t charge extra for airway evaluations—and we don’t oversell treatment. If we see something concerning, we’ll explain what we’re seeing and talk about next steps.
Schedule a free consultation at Degenhardt Orthodontics to learn how airway-focused care can support your health—at any age.