Best Airway Orthodontist in Farmington, UT
Snoring, waking up tired and a bite that never quite fit can all trace back to the shape of the jaw. They can also trace back to something an orthodontist cannot fix, and you deserve to know which. Our pick in Farmington is Bailey-Welling Orthodontics on State Street.
Dr. Andrew Welling and Dr. Rett Cortez see kids, teens and adults here and in Bountiful. The airway evaluation is free, runs 45 to 60 minutes, and includes a 3D scan. Take the 1-minute airway quiz.
Why Bailey-Welling is our pick in Farmington
Three checks, and what we found.
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Families keep saying so
The practice reports more than 575 five-star Google reviews across both offices. A few are 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
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Airway pages on their own site
The Farmington page covers every age, lists what orthodontics cannot fix, and points you to an ENT or sleep physician when that fits better.
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Two orthodontists with university training
Dr. Welling: dental degree and orthodontic master's, University of Iowa. Dr. Cortez: orthodontic residency, Loma Linda University.
What we did not find: an airway-specific certification or training listed in either bio. The practice treats airway work as part of regular orthodontic care.
The orthodontists at Bailey-Welling
Dr. Andrew Welling
DDS and MS in orthodontics, University of Iowa. He grew up in Davis County and focuses on how bite development ties into overall health.
Dr. Rett Cortez
Orthodontic residency at Loma Linda University. Patients call him Dr. Rett.
What airway orthodontics can do at each age
Age changes the answer more than anything else. The palate fuses in the mid to late teens, so options shift as growth ends.
Ages 5 to 7
Palate expansion responds best here. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first visit by age 7.
Ages 8 to 12
A strong window for guiding growth. Expansion, functional appliances and early (Phase 1) treatment are common.
Ages 13 to 17
Expansion is still possible but takes more force as the palate matures. Braces or Invisalign often follow.
Adults
Growth is finished, so treatment leans on braces or Invisalign, coordination with other specialists, and surgical orthodontics for bigger skeletal cases. Bailey-Welling also offers an adult palatal expander.
Who else may be involved
- Your pediatrician or family doctor
- An ENT, for tonsils, adenoids and nasal blockage
- An allergist, if allergies are the cause
- A sleep physician, for suspected sleep apnea
Signs worth an airway evaluation in Farmington
None of these prove a jaw problem. Several together are a good reason to ask.
In kids and teens
- Snoring or mouth breathing
- Restless sleep
- Crowded teeth, a crossbite or a narrow arch
- Trouble focusing during the day
In adults
- Chronic snoring
- Waking up tired
- Morning headaches
- Jaw discomfort
- A bite problem nobody ever evaluated
See a doctor first
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Gasping or choking at night
Pauses in breathing during sleep are a medical issue. Call your doctor before an orthodontic visit.
Quick check: is it worth asking about airway?
Answer yes or no. This cannot diagnose anything. It shows how strongly the signs line up for you or your child.
Treatment options at Bailey-Welling
Expanders and functional appliances
Palate expanders are used for roughly ages 5 to 14, and the practice uses 3D expanders.
Functional appliances guide jaw position during growth, usually around ages 8 to 14.
Braces, Invisalign and surgery
Options include P21 self-ligating braces, Iconix esthetic braces and Invisalign.
Surgical orthodontics is for skeletal cases appliances cannot solve, coordinated with oral surgeons.
How Bailey-Welling decides what a patient needs
The practice says each evaluation looks at:
- Bite fit and jaw position
- Palate development
- Sleep and breathing habits, through questions at the visit
There is real debate in the field about how much orthodontics changes sleep apnea, and the practice says so openly.
When airway orthodontics is not the answer
Sleep apnea is suspected. That needs a sleep study and a physician.
Enlarged tonsils, adenoids or allergies are the cause. An ENT or medical care comes first.
The jaw is not the problem. The doctors will refer you instead of selling you treatment.
What happens at your first visit
The visit is free, runs 45 to 60 minutes, and there is no obligation. No molds are taken.
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Questions about sleep and breathing. The doctor asks about snoring, tiredness and habits.
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Exam, photos and a 3D scan. The doctor reviews bite, jaw position and palate with a 3D CBCT scan.
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Options, timeline and cost. You leave with a plan and an estimate. Same-day starts are available if you are ready.
No referral is needed to book.
What Farmington 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 Farmington
The Farmington office is on State Street, in a white building with a Bailey Orthodontics sign out front. 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.
Farmington
122 E State St
Farmington, UT 84025
Dr. Welling and Dr. Cortez
Serves Kaysville, Fruit Heights, Layton, Syracuse, Clearfield, Clinton and West Point
Directions
Bountiful
59 W Pages Ln #100
Bountiful, UT 84010
Dr. Welling and Dr. Cortez
Closer to West Bountiful, Woods Cross and North Salt Lake
Directions
Phone: (801) 451-6664. Closer to Bountiful? See our Bountiful airway orthodontist guide.
Airway orthodontist questions in Farmington, UT
Can an orthodontist help with snoring?
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Sometimes, when a narrow jaw is part of the cause. Orthodontics does not cure snoring or sleep apnea on its own.
My pediatrician said to wait. Is that okay?
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It can be. A free evaluation gives you real information to bring back to your pediatrician so you can decide together.
Could it just be allergies?
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Yes. Allergies and enlarged tonsils or adenoids are common causes, and they may need an ENT or medical care first.
Is airway orthodontics a marketing term?
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Jaw width and nasal breathing are genuinely connected. Promises of a cure are the marketing part, and this practice does not make them.
Do extractions affect breathing?
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The practice says the evidence does not support the idea that properly planned extractions cause airway problems. Ask the doctor how that applies to your case.
What are the options for teens?
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Expansion is still possible but takes more force as the palate matures. Braces or Invisalign often follow.
Should I choose the Farmington or the Bountiful office?
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Whichever is easier to reach. Both doctors see patients at both offices, with the same hours.
Still have a question?
Start with a free airway evaluation in Farmington
If snoring, tiredness or a bite that never felt right has you wondering about the jaw, 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 Farmington? Find an airway orthodontist near you, or see our Bountiful guide.
Meet the Bailey-Welling team
A few of the practice's most-viewed reels from Facebook.