Best Airway Orthodontist in Johnson City, TN
Sturgill Orthodontics, on Sunset Drive in Johnson City, is the airway orthodontist we recommend in the Tri-Cities. Three Board Certified Orthodontists see patients in the Johnson City office: Dr. Jeremiah Sturgill, Dr. Allison Williams and Dr. Anne Miller Harper.
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.
If your child snores most nights, breathes through their mouth, or wakes up tired after a full night in bed, you have probably already searched for answers. Many parents start with the pediatrician. The jaw and palate are one part of the picture, and an orthodontist who looks at airway can check that part.
Adults ask the same questions about their own sleep. The goal is simple: find out whether the way your jaws are built is part of the problem, and what can be done about it.
Not sure yet? Take the 1-minute airway quiz.
Why Sturgill Orthodontics is our pick in Johnson City
Every practice in this guide passes three checks. Here is how Sturgill Orthodontics did on each.
Patients praise the care, including expanders for kids
Most of the praise is about the team and how families are treated. A few reviews come from parents whose children had palatal expanders:
We saw Julie today for help with an expander and she was literally the sweetest.
Jill O. on Google Helped so much with my daughter when she got braces and expander on.
Katie B. on Google My son's expander popped off on one side and we had to call the on-call. Carla drove 30 minutes to come and remove the expander for us.
Lauren W. on Google None of these reviews describe airway results, so we do not claim any. What they show is a practice that handles expanders every week and picks up the phone when something goes wrong.
The practice has real airway pages on its own site
Sturgill Orthodontics publishes its own pages on airway orthodontics in Johnson City, palatal expanders, MARPE and sleep apnea treatment. You can read all four before you ever pick up the phone.
Three Board Certified Orthodontists in one office
All three Johnson City doctors are Board Certified Orthodontists, and each has specialty training from a university orthodontic program.
The three doctors in the Johnson City 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.
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.
The doctors are members of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Southern Association of Orthodontists and the Tennessee Association of Orthodontists, among other groups.
What an airway orthodontist does
An airway orthodontist treats the way 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. For an adult with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, it can mean a custom oral appliance. 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, sleep physician and sometimes a myofunctional therapist, 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 in Johnson City can help.
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.
Palatal expanders for kids, MARPE for teens and adults
Palatal expanders for children
A palatal expander gradually widens the upper jaw over several months. A wider palate adds room for permanent teeth, can improve tongue posture, and increases the space in the nasal airway. Sturgill Orthodontics says expansion works best roughly between ages 7 and 12, while the jaw is still growing.
Read how the practice explains it on its palatal expanders page.
MARPE for older teens and adults
MARPE stands for miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion. It widens the upper jaw with a custom device anchored by titanium mini-implants, and it is meant for patients whose jaw has stopped growing the way a child's does. Sturgill Orthodontics lists it for teens and adults from about age 16.
Here is how the practice describes the steps:
- A custom appliance is made after a consultation with 3D imaging.
- Placement of the mini-implants takes 15 to 30 minutes under local anesthesia.
- At home, you turn a small key once or twice a day for about 4 to 6 weeks.
- The appliance stays in place for 4 to 6 months while new bone forms.
- Braces or clear aligners then finish the bite.
MARPE is not right for everyone. The practice lists gum disease, significant bone loss, osteoporosis and certain medical conditions as reasons for extra evaluation. An exam decides.
The full details are on the MARPE page at Sturgill Orthodontics.
How the practice decides what a patient needs
The practice describes the choice as a fit with age and anatomy:
- A growing child with a narrow upper jaw is a candidate for a palatal expander.
- A teen or adult whose jaw has stopped growing is a candidate for MARPE, if the exam and imaging support it.
- Adults with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea that a physician has diagnosed may be offered an oral appliance.
- Braces or clear aligners come after expansion, to finish the bite.
The deciding step is the 3D imaging and exam, not the symptom list. That is also why a consultation comes before any plan.
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. An oral appliance is an option for mild to moderate cases, and 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. The practice says it coordinates with other providers when they should be involved, and that is a good sign. Ask who else should look at your child before treatment starts.
What happens at your first visit
Sturgill Orthodontics offers a free consultation. The practice describes the airway evaluation in three steps:
A conversation about medical and sleep history, a look at jaw and facial development, tongue posture and how the mouth works, and the symptoms you have noticed.
3D imaging to measure the airway, check how the jaws line up, and look at the nasal passages and sinuses.
A treatment plan with timing that fits your age, which other providers should be involved, the expected timeline, and financing options.
Bring a short list of what you have noticed, and anything your dentist or pediatrician has said. More about what to expect is on the practice's first visit page.
What patients say about the office
Sturgill Orthodontics has a 5.0 rating from more than 1,800 Google reviews. You can read them on Google. Here are four from the practice’s own testimonials page.
We love Sturgill Orthodontics! Everyone is always very welcoming and friendly from the moment we arrive to when we leave. Service and care are top-notch and it doesn’t hurt that there’s a sweet puppy to help calm nerves.
All 5 of my family members have been with Dr. Sturgill and Dr. Williams. The team is AMAZING and always so nice to us. They have made being in braces better than I thought it would be. We love everyone there!
What an awesome place! The staff is so professional and caring. They work extra hard to make you feel comfortable. The flow of how they move people through is really cool. You can tell they care about their patients. Louie the dog is the sweetest boy! We are so happy with how they are doing with both of my sons’ braces. Absolutely phenomenal!
We absolutely love this office. They truly are great people and have provided nothing but quality service for my girl. Thank you for always listening and being there any time we need you all.
Where to find Sturgill Orthodontics in Johnson City
Sturgill Orthodontics801 Sunset Dr., Suite E5Johnson City, TN 37604Phone: (423) 282-2333
- Monday to Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Families come from Johnson City and throughout Washington, Sullivan and Carter counties, including Kingsport, Bristol, Elizabethton, Jonesborough, Gray, Piney Flats, Boones Creek, Erwin, Fall Branch, Blountville and Norton, VA. The practice has offices in Johnson City, Bristol, TN and Norton, VA.
See Sturgill Orthodontics on Google Maps, with directions, photos and patient reviews.
Airway orthodontist questions in Johnson City
Does an airway orthodontist treat sleep apnea?
An orthodontist can make an oral appliance for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea once a physician has diagnosed it. Airway orthodontics is not a standalone cure for diagnosed sleep apnea. Sturgill Orthodontics says some patients reduce or stop CPAP use. 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 Orthodontics 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. For children with a palatal expander, Sturgill Orthodontics says breathing improvements may take 6 to 12 months to show up, and comprehensive treatment with braces may take 18 to 24 months in total.
For MARPE, the expansion phase is about 4 to 6 weeks, followed by months of holding the new position and then braces or aligners.
What does airway orthodontic treatment cost without insurance?
Sturgill Orthodontics lists a traditional palatal expander at about $2,500 to $4,000 and a MARPE device at about $2,500 to $4,500 on its website. Braces or aligners after expansion are listed separately at about $5,000 to $8,000.
Your exact number depends on your plan, so the free consultation is the place to ask. You can also read about financing and insurance before you go.
Does insurance cover airway orthodontic treatment?
Coverage varies by plan. Sturgill Orthodontics says coverage is often available when treatment is considered medically necessary, that it works with most major insurance plans, and that it offers financing with low down payments.
Will my child miss school?
The practice says it schedules to keep disruption low, with early-morning hours on Thursday, and that most adjustment visits take under 30 minutes.
Can airway orthodontics help with ADHD symptoms?
Poor sleep from sleep-disordered breathing can cause symptoms that look like ADHD, such as trouble focusing and hyperactivity. Airway treatment is not a replacement for an ADHD evaluation. If sleep is a concern, raise it with your child's pediatrician along with the orthodontist.
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.
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 Johnson City? We are adding more cities. You can find an airway orthodontist near you on the home page.
For orthodontists
There's no fee to be listed. If you treat the airway and want to be considered, send us your practice and we'll review it the same way we review everyone.
Meet the Sturgill Orthodontics team
The team at Sturgill Orthodontics shares office life, patient moments and a lot of laughing on Facebook and Instagram. These are some of their most-watched reels, so you know who you will meet.