Best Airway Orthodontist in Bristol, TN and VA
Sturgill Orthodontics has an office on Blountville Highway in Bristol, and it is the airway orthodontist we recommend for families on both sides of the Tennessee and Virginia line. Dr. Jeremiah Sturgill leads the practice, with Dr. Allison Williams, Dr. Anne Miller Harper and Dr. L. Sean Mullins.
The practice treats the jaw and palate side of breathing problems. Kids can get a palatal expander while they are still growing. Older teens and adults can get MARPE, a non-surgical way to widen the upper jaw.
Not sure yet? Take the 1-minute airway quiz. The first visit is free.
Why Sturgill Orthodontics is our pick in Bristol
Every practice in this guide passes three checks. Here is how Sturgill Orthodontics did on each.
Families praise the Bristol office
The reviews on the practice's Bristol page are about the staff and how kids and parents are treated. None describe airway results, so we do not claim any. You can read three of them further down this page.
Carla Strickland Hatcher, Operations Manager, Bristol 
Samantha McCraw, Clinical Director, Bristol The practice has real airway pages on its own site
Sturgill Orthodontics publishes its own pages on airway orthodontics, palatal expanders, MARPE and sleep apnea treatment. They are written with the Johnson City office in mind, but it is the same practice, so you can read all four before you ever pick up the phone.
Board certified orthodontists you can look up
Dr. Jeremiah Sturgill, Dr. Allison Williams and Dr. Anne Miller Harper are all Board Certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. You can check the American Association of Orthodontists directory for Dr. Sturgill and Dr. Harper. Read Dr. Williams' bio for hers.
Ready to see if your child is a fit? The first visit is free.
The four orthodontists at the Bristol office
Dr. Jeremiah Sturgill
DMD, MPH, DHEd. Board Certified Orthodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Assistant professor in the orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic residency program at VCU. Earned his dental degree at the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health. Read his full background.
Dr. Allison Williams
DDS, MSD. Board Certified Orthodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Earned her DDS at Indiana University and her MSD with orthodontic specialty training at VCU, where she also worked with the craniofacial team. Her listed skills include management of sleep apnea. Read her full background.
Dr. Anne Miller Harper
DMD, MSD. Board Certified Orthodontist through the American Board of Orthodontics. Graduated summa cum laude from Clemson, earned her DMD at the Medical University of South Carolina, and completed her MSD and orthodontics certificate at VCU. Read her full background.
Dr. L. Sean Mullins
Studied at Virginia Tech, then earned his DDS and completed his orthodontic residency at the Medical College of Virginia at VCU. He has cared for Bristol smiles since 1995, back when the office was Mullins Orthodontics. Read his full background.
Dr. Sturgill's bio says he sees patients at all three of the practice's offices: Johnson City, Bristol and Norton, VA. The practice does not publish which doctor is in Bristol on which day, so ask the Bristol team when you request a consultation.
The doctors are members of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Tennessee Association of Orthodontists and other groups, and Dr. Sturgill and Dr. Williams also belong to the Southern and Virginia Associations of Orthodontists.
Meet the team in Bristol. The first visit is free.
What an airway orthodontist does
An airway orthodontist looks at how the jaws and palate develop with breathing in mind.
For a child, that often means widening a narrow upper jaw with a palatal expander while the bones are still growing. For an older teen or adult, it can mean MARPE. Sometimes the right answer is a referral to another doctor.
An orthodontist does not diagnose sleep apnea. That takes a sleep study ordered by a physician. Airway orthodontics works alongside your pediatrician, ENT and sleep physician, and does not replace them.
Why jaw and palate shape matter for breathing
A few things can narrow the airway or change how the face grows:
- A narrow upper jaw or a high palate
- An underdeveloped lower jaw, which can leave less room for the tongue
- Long-term mouth breathing in a growing child
- Poor tongue posture
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids, which are a medical issue and need an ENT
The first two are where an orthodontist can help. The last one is why the orthodontist and your other doctors need to talk to each other.
Video from Sturgill Orthodontics: Tired all the time? Airway orthodontics can help.
Who else may be involved
Airway problems rarely belong to one doctor. Depending on your child, the team can include:
- Your pediatrician or family doctor
- An ENT, for tonsils, adenoids and allergies
- A sleep physician, if sleep apnea is suspected
- A myofunctional therapist, for tongue posture and breathing habits
Signs you or your child may need an airway evaluation
Signs in children
Sleep and breathing
- Mouth breathing during sleep
- Loud snoring, or gasping
- Restless sleep, or sleeping in unusual positions
- Bedwetting past the usual age
- Morning headaches or a dry mouth
Behavior and school
- Trouble concentrating, or ADHD-like hyperactivity
- Tiredness even after enough sleep
- Irritability or mood swings
Teeth and face
- Crowded teeth
- A narrow upper jaw or high palate
- A recessed chin, or a long, narrow face
- Dark circles under the eyes
Signs in adults
Adults often notice loud snoring, morning headaches, daytime tiredness, jaw pain, and trouble concentrating at work. A partner may notice pauses in breathing.
Any one of these can have other causes. A pattern is what is worth bringing up with your child's orthodontist and pediatrician.
If you see pauses in breathing, gasping or choking at night, or anyone has trouble breathing, call your doctor first. Severe swelling, fever with swelling, or trouble swallowing or breathing means urgent medical care.
Quick check: is it worth asking about airway?
Answer yes or no for your child, or for yourself. This quiz cannot diagnose anything. An exam can.
Narrow jaws, overbites and underbites: what the Bristol office sees
Bristol families ask the Bristol office about three bite problems more than any other: a narrow upper jaw, an overbite and an underbite. Sturgill Orthodontics has written up each one for Bristol patients, and the airway connection starts with the first.
Narrow upper jaw
A palatal expander gradually widens the upper jaw over several months in a growing child. A wider palate adds room for permanent teeth and increases the space in the nasal airway, which is why it comes up when a child snores or breathes through the mouth. Older teens and adults may be evaluated for MARPE instead. An exam decides. Read the palatal expanders page.
Overbite
The practice's Bristol overbite guide says most Bristol patients finish in 18 to 30 months, with a retainer after. For bigger overbites in growing kids it lists rubber bands, headgear worn at night, and temporary anchorage devices as options. Read Do Braces Fix Overbites? Your Bristol, TN Guide.
Underbite
The practice's Bristol underbite page lists braces, Invisalign, InBrace, face mask therapy and jaw surgery as treatment methods, with a range of 12 to 36 months depending on the case. It also says the jaw position, not just the teeth, is often the problem, which is why younger patients should be seen early. Read Bristol, TN Underbite Specialists.
How the Bristol office decides what a patient needs
Bristol has four orthodontists and the practice says they collaborate on your care. What that means for you:
- Your first visit starts with photos, X-rays and a digital scan, then a one-on-one talk with a doctor.
- A growing child with a narrow upper jaw may be a candidate for a palatal expander.
- A teen or adult whose jaw has stopped growing may be evaluated for MARPE, if the exam and imaging support it.
- Braces or clear aligners come after expansion, to finish the bite.
The practice has served Bristol since the Mullins Orthodontics days in 1995, so the office has a long local record. The exam and imaging decide the plan, not the symptom list.
When airway orthodontics is not the answer
Airway treatment does not fit everyone. Moderate to severe sleep apnea often needs a plan led by a physician, such as a CPAP machine. A sleep physician can tell you which one you have.
Enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies, and suspected sleep apnea all belong with a physician first. Ask the Bristol team who else should look at your child before treatment starts.
What happens at your first visit in Bristol
The Bristol first visit is free and you do not need a referral from your dentist. The practice says most families get in the same week they call.
You check in at the office at 350 Blountville Hwy, Suite 206. The practice describes it as right off Highway 11E with ample parking.
The team takes photos, X-rays and a digital scan of your teeth, then you sit down one-on-one with a doctor.
The doctor explains your options, what to expect, how long it takes and what it costs, and the team goes over payment options.
Bristol hours
Monday to Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, closed. Call or text (423) 764-4174.
Airway questions
For airway concerns the practice says the evaluation adds a look at medical and sleep history, tongue posture and 3D imaging of the airway. Bring a short list of what you have noticed and anything your dentist or pediatrician has said.
Not ready to come in?
The practice offers a virtual consult. You send photos of your smile from home and a doctor reviews them. More on the first visit page.
Coming from Virginia?
Bristol is one city with a state line down State Street, and the Bristol office sits on the Tennessee side. The practice says families from Bristol, VA, Abingdon and the rest of Washington County make the short drive. Here is what to know before you come.
Insurance from Virginia
Sturgill Orthodontics says it is a preferred provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and Delta Dental, accepts most major plans, and checks your benefits before your first visit. Give the office your plan details when you book. Read the financing and insurance page.
Closer to Norton?
The practice also has a Norton, VA office at 615 Park Ave NW, Suite 201. It lists Tuesdays only, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at (276) 679-7535. See the Norton office page.
Need a Friday?
The Bristol office is closed on Fridays. The Johnson City office lists Friday hours from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Bristol page also says same-week appointments are available.
What patients say about the Bristol office
The Bristol office page on the practice's site lists a 5.0 Google rating. Here are three reviews from that page. You can read more on the practice's testimonials page.
This was an awesome experience for my daughter. The staff was kind and made our daughter feel loved and comfortable.
Great staff! Everyone is very friendly, and my daughter's teeth look great!
The treatment plan coordinator was amazing with my seven-month-old while my oldest got braces.
Join the families who already made the call.
Where to find Sturgill Orthodontics in Bristol
Sturgill Orthodontics350 Blountville Hwy., Suite 206Bristol, TN 37620Phone: (423) 764-4174
- Monday to Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Families come from both sides of the state line. In Virginia, that includes Bristol, Colonial Heights, Abingdon, Hawkins Mill and Bolton in Washington County. In Tennessee, it includes Walnut Hill, Blountville, Bluff City, Holston and Hilton in Sullivan County, plus Kingsport.
The practice also has offices in Johnson City, TN and Norton, VA.
See the Bristol office on Google Maps, with directions, photos and patient reviews.
Airway orthodontist questions in Bristol, TN and VA
Is there an airway orthodontist in Bristol, VA?
Bristol is one city split by the state line. The Sturgill Orthodontics office is at 350 Blountville Highway on the Tennessee side, and the practice says families make the short drive from Bristol, VA. It also has an office in Norton, VA, which the practice lists as open on Tuesdays.
Does an airway orthodontist treat sleep apnea?
An orthodontist does not diagnose sleep apnea. That takes a sleep study ordered by a physician. For mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea that a physician has diagnosed, the practice lists an oral appliance, and it says airway orthodontics is not a standalone cure. Ask the Bristol office what it can start there. Details are on its sleep apnea treatment page.
Can a palatal expander help my child breathe through their nose?
Widening a narrow upper jaw also widens the floor of the nose, which can make nasal breathing easier for some children. It is not a cure for snoring and it does not fit every child. An exam decides.
At what age should my child see an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check around age 7. Expansion works best while a child is still growing, which is why timing matters for airway concerns.
Am I too old for airway orthodontics?
There is no age limit on getting an evaluation. Adult jaws are done growing, so treatment looks different. MARPE, braces, clear aligners, an oral appliance or a referral for surgical orthodontics are all possibilities, and an exam sorts out which one fits.
How long does airway orthodontic treatment take?
It depends on the age and the plan. Sturgill Orthodontics says a traditional palatal expander takes about 3 to 6 months. For MARPE, you turn the device at home for about 4 to 6 weeks, and it stays in place for about 4 to 6 months while new bone forms. Braces or aligners then finish the bite.
What does airway orthodontic treatment cost?
The Bristol page does not list a price for airway treatment, and we are not going to guess one. Sturgill Orthodontics says you get a full cost breakdown before treatment starts and are never charged hidden fees, and it describes its payment plans as no-interest. Ask for the number at the free consultation. You can also read about financing and insurance first.
Will my insurance work if I live in Virginia?
Coverage varies by plan. Sturgill Orthodontics says it is a preferred provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and Delta Dental, accepts most major plans, and checks your benefits before your first visit. If your plan is a Virginia plan, give the office your details and ask them to check it.
Do I need a referral to see an airway orthodontist?
The Bristol page says you do not need a referral. If your child's dentist or pediatrician has already raised a concern, bring their notes to the first visit.
Which Sturgill Orthodontics office should I go to?
Bristol is at 350 Blountville Highway and is open Monday to Thursday. The Johnson City office is at 801 Sunset Drive. The Norton, VA office is at 615 Park Avenue NW and is open Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Is the Bristol office the old Mullins Orthodontics?
Yes. The practice says Dr. L. Sean Mullins cared for Bristol smiles since 1995 and is handing the office over to the Sturgill Orthodontics team. You may still see the Mullins name on some maps and listings.
How is an airway orthodontist different from a regular orthodontist?
Every orthodontist straightens teeth. An airway-focused orthodontist also asks how the width of the palate and the position of the jaws affect breathing and sleep, and works with your other doctors when the answer is outside the mouth.
Still have a question? Ask it at your free first visit.
Start with a free consultation
If you have been wondering about snoring, mouth breathing or tired mornings, the first step is a conversation with someone who looks at the jaw and airway side of it.
Not in Bristol? We are adding more cities. You can find an airway orthodontist near you on the home page, or see all Tennessee practices.