Best Airway Orthodontist in Bountiful, UT
If your child snores, breathes through their mouth, or tosses all night, you want a straight answer about whether their jaw has anything to do with it. Our pick in Bountiful is Bailey-Welling Orthodontics on Pages Lane.
Dr. Andrew Welling grew up in Bountiful, and he and Dr. Rett Cortez see patients here and in Farmington. The first airway evaluation is free, takes 45 to 60 minutes, and includes a 3D scan. Take the 1-minute airway quiz.
Why Bailey-Welling is our pick in Bountiful
We check three things before we name a practice. Here is what we found.
- 1
Families keep saying so
The practice reports more than 575 five-star Google reviews across its Bountiful and Farmington offices. You can read a few further down this page.
What we checked
- 575+ five-star Google reviews, as listed by the practice
- Airway pages published for both offices
- Two orthodontists with university orthodontic training
- Free evaluation with a 3D scan
- 2
Airway pages on their own site
Bailey-Welling publishes an airway page for each office, and both say plainly what orthodontics can and cannot do for breathing.
- 3
Two orthodontists with university training
Dr. Welling earned his dental degree and orthodontic master's at the University of Iowa. Dr. Cortez completed his orthodontic residency at Loma Linda University.
One thing we did not find: neither doctor's bio names airway-specific training or a board certification, and the practice describes airway work as part of regular orthodontic care. We would rather tell you that than guess.
The orthodontists at Bailey-Welling
Dr. Andrew Welling
DDS and MS in orthodontics from the University of Iowa. Grew up in Bountiful and lives in Davis County. His focus is how bite and jaw development connect to overall health.
Dr. Rett Cortez
Orthodontic residency at Loma Linda University. Goes by Dr. Rett with patients. The practice says he takes his time with families.
What an airway orthodontist can do for a child in Bountiful
An airway orthodontist looks at the shape of the upper jaw and palate. If the upper arch is narrow, the floor of the nose can be narrow too, and that can make nose breathing harder.
When a narrow arch is really there, palate expansion can widen the nasal floor and make room for the tongue and teeth. When it is not there, an expander will not help, and the practice says so.
An orthodontist does not treat sleep apnea or cure snoring. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are usually an ENT issue.
Who else may be involved
- Your pediatrician, who is usually the first call
- An ENT, for tonsils, adenoids and nasal blockage
- An allergist, if allergies are driving the stuffy nose
- A sleep physician, for suspected sleep apnea
- A myofunctional therapist, for tongue and swallowing habits
Signs your child may need an airway evaluation
None of these prove a jaw problem. Several together are a good reason to ask.
Sleep and breathing
- Snoring most nights
- Mouth open while asleep
- Restless sleep or lots of tossing
- Waking up tired
Daytime
- Trouble focusing at school
- Mouth breathing while awake
- A constant stuffy nose with no allergy diagnosis
Teeth and face
- A crossbite or a narrow upper arch
- Crowded teeth
- Tongue resting low in the mouth
- A dentist who mentioned the arch is narrow
If you ever see pauses in your child's breathing, call your pediatrician right away. Do not wait for an orthodontic visit.
Quick check: is it worth asking about airway?
Answer yes or no. This cannot diagnose anything. It tells you how strongly the signs line up.
Palate expanders for kids in Bountiful
Which expander
Bailey-Welling uses a Rapid Palatal Expander and 3D expanders. The practice says the 3D version moves the palate more precisely and is more comfortable than older designs.
When it makes sense, the doctors use two-phase treatment: expansion first, then braces or Invisalign later.
Timing and cost
The best window is usually about ages 7 to 12, before the seam in the middle of the palate fuses. Every child is different, so the 3D scan decides, not the calendar.
Cost is covered at the evaluation, and financing and payment plans are available.
How Bailey-Welling decides what a child needs
The practice says every evaluation measures, against your child's age and growth stage:
- Arch width and bite
- Jaw development and tooth position
- Tongue posture
Those measurements, plus the 3D scan, decide whether an expander, waiting, or an ENT referral makes sense.
When airway orthodontics is not the answer
The jaw is developing well, and the doctors will refer you to an ENT.
Your child snores but their teeth and bite look normal. An ENT is usually the better first call.
Big tonsils or adenoids are the problem. That is an ENT decision, and the doctors coordinate with the ENT when both are involved.
Sleep apnea is suspected. That needs a sleep study and a physician.
What happens at your first visit
The visit is free, runs 45 to 60 minutes, and there is no obligation. A virtual exam is available if you cannot come in.
- 1
Welcome and history. You talk through sleep, breathing and any concerns.
- 2
Exam and 3D scan. The doctor checks arch width, bite and jaw growth, and takes a 3D CBCT scan. No molds.
- 3
Options, timeline and cost. You leave with a plan, a timeline and a cost estimate, or a referral if another specialist fits better.
No referral is needed to book.
What Bountiful families say about Bailey-Welling
These are Google reviews from Bailey-Welling patients, pulled from the practice's own site.
Where to find Bailey-Welling in Bountiful
The Bountiful office is next to South Davis Pediatric Dentistry. Hours: Monday and Thursday 8:45 AM to 4:15 PM, Tuesday 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM, Wednesday 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM, Friday 9 AM to 12 PM (reception only). Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Bountiful
59 W Pages Ln #100
Bountiful, UT 84010
Dr. Welling and Dr. Cortez
Serves West Bountiful, Woods Cross, North Salt Lake and Centerville
Directions
Farmington
122 E State St
Farmington, UT 84025
Dr. Welling and Dr. Cortez
Closer to Kaysville, Layton and Fruit Heights
Directions
Phone: (801) 292-1222. Closer to Farmington? See our Farmington airway orthodontist guide.
Airway orthodontist questions in Bountiful, UT
Can a palate expander help my child breathe better?
+
Yes, if a narrow upper jaw is limiting airflow through the nose. Not every child with breathing trouble has that problem, and the 3D scan shows whether yours does.
When should my child be seen?
+
By age 7 is the usual guidance. Sooner is fine if you see snoring, mouth breathing or restless sleep.
Is airway orthodontics a real thing or a marketing term?
+
The link between jaw width and nasal breathing is documented. Claims that orthodontics cures sleep apnea or snoring are overstated, and Bailey-Welling says so on its own page.
My child has big tonsils and a narrow jaw. What comes first?
+
Both may need treatment, and the order can matter. The doctors coordinate with your child's ENT.
Does insurance cover an airway evaluation?
+
The evaluation is free. Insurance coverage for treatment depends on the structural finding, such as a crossbite, narrow arch or crowding, and not on the breathing concern. The team reviews your plan at the visit.
Should I choose the Bountiful or the Farmington office?
+
Pick whichever is easier to reach. Dr. Welling and Dr. Cortez see patients at both, and the hours are the same.
Still have a question?
Start with a free airway evaluation in Bountiful
If you have been wondering whether your child's snoring or mouth breathing is a jaw problem, a 45 to 60 minute visit with a 3D scan will tell you. If it is not the jaw, the doctors will say so.
Not in Bountiful? Find an airway orthodontist near you, or see our Farmington guide.
Meet the Bailey-Welling team
A few of the practice's most-viewed reels from Facebook.