Best Airway Orthodontist in Harrisonburg, VA
Giardina Orthodontics, on Evelyn Byrd Avenue in Harrisonburg, is the airway orthodontist we recommend in the Shenandoah Valley. Dr. Julia Giardina leads the practice, and Dr. Mylan Young is part of the team. Dr. Giardina is the doctor its airway pages feature.
The practice treats the jaw and palate side of breathing problems. Kids can get a palatal expander while they are still growing, and adults can get MARPE, a non-surgical way to widen the upper jaw. During her orthodontic residency at Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Giardina researched screening tools for pediatric sleep apnea.
If your child snores most nights, sleeps with their mouth open, 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. The first visit is free, and you do not need a referral.
Why Giardina Orthodontics is our pick in Harrisonburg
Every practice in this guide passes three checks. Here is how Giardina Orthodontics did on each.
Patients praise the care, including expanders for kids
Most of the praise is about the team and how kids are treated. A few reviews come from parents whose children had palatal expanders:
My 8 year old has had a great experience with getting an expander and now braces.
Melanie S. on Google My daughter got her expander out today. She was very nervous about this appointment, but the staff made her feel very comfortable.
Sarah K. on Google Our son needed a palate expander and stage one orthodontics. She walked us through the process, expectations, timelines and expected outcomes.
Jocelyn C. on Google None of these reviews describe airway results, so we do not claim any. What they show is a practice that handles expanders regularly and explains the plan to families.
The practice has real airway pages on its own site
Giardina Orthodontics publishes its own pages on airway orthodontics, palatal expanders, sleep apnea treatment and child mouth breathing in Harrisonburg. You can read all four before you ever pick up the phone.
A board certified orthodontist you can look up
Dr. Julia Giardina is listed as an active Board Certified orthodontist in the American Board of Orthodontics directory. You can check it yourself by searching ZIP code 22801.
Ready to see if your child is a fit? The first visit is free.
The doctors at Giardina Orthodontics
Dr. Julia Giardina
DDS. Board Certified Orthodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, listed as active in the ABO directory. Earned her orthodontic specialty certificate and Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University, where her residency research looked at screening tools for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. Read her full background.
Dr. Mylan Young
DDS. A Virginia native who joined Giardina Orthodontics after her orthodontic residency. Earned her DDS at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, then completed her orthodontic residency and Master of Science in Orthodontics at the University of Michigan. Read her full background.
Dr. Giardina is also a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Southern Association of Orthodontists and the Virginia Association of Orthodontists.
Meet Dr. Giardina in person. The first visit is free.
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 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.
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, which the practice refers out
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 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.
Giardina Orthodontics describes ages 7 to 14 as the usual range for a child's expander, with ages 8 to 10 as the sweet spot, while the jaw is still growing. Here is the general path:
- A free first visit with Dr. Giardina to look at the jaw, the bite and your child's symptoms.
- A custom expander is made and fitted to the upper teeth.
- At home, a parent turns a small key, usually once a day, for a few weeks.
- The expander stays in place for several months while new bone fills in.
- Braces or Invisalign can follow, if the bite needs finishing.
Read how the practice explains it on its palatal expander page.
MARPE for adults
MARPE stands for mini-screw assisted rapid palatal expansion. A custom expander is anchored with small bone screws. It is used for adults whose upper jaw has started to fuse, which makes a standard expander less likely to work on its own.
Giardina Orthodontics lists MARPE for adult patients, including patients in their twenties and thirties.
Some adults with a significant jaw problem need surgically assisted expansion instead, which is done together with jaw surgery. An exam decides which path fits.
MARPE is not right for everyone. Your orthodontist and, if sleep apnea is a concern, your sleep physician should both be part of the decision. The full details are on the practice's sleep apnea treatment page.
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.
- An adult whose jaw has stopped growing may be a candidate for MARPE, if the exam supports it.
- A few significant adult cases may need surgically assisted expansion.
- Braces or Invisalign can come after expansion, to finish the bite.
- Kids who are not ready yet can be monitored in the practice's Kids Club.
The deciding step is the 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. 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 pediatricians, ENTs and sleep physicians. Ask who else should look at your child before treatment starts.
What happens at your first visit
Giardina Orthodontics offers a free first visit, and the practice does not require a referral. Here is how it describes the visit:
The team greets you, shows you around the office and introduces you to Dr. Giardina.
Dr. Giardina meets with you in a private room to talk about your goals and concerns, and explains the treatment options.
She answers your questions and works out a plan with you. The team then helps with scheduling and payment arrangements.
Bring a short list of what you have noticed, anything your dentist or pediatrician has said, your insurance card, and any records from your general dentist. More about what to expect is on the practice's first visit page.
What patients say about the office
Giardina Orthodontics has a 5.0 rating from more than 1,400 Google reviews. You can read them on Google. Here are four of them.
This practice is great! All of the staff is nice and they made my daughter feel comfortable from the very first visit. I also appreciate that they talk to her first, then me, so she feels like she is a part of her care.
Very kind and professional! We love the office mascot and certified therapy dog - Jerry. He helped put my son at ease.
2 of my children are treated by Dr. G. One with braces, expander and head gear and the other with invisilign. Their office and care are spectacular. We have seen incredible results.
I had a great experience with Giardina Orthodontics! The staff is friendly, professional, and welcoming, and they make you feel comfortable from the moment you walk in.
Join the families who already made the call.
Where to find Giardina Orthodontics in Harrisonburg
Giardina Orthodontics2505-A Evelyn Byrd Ave.Harrisonburg, VA 22801Phone: (540) 433-8814
- Monday to Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Friday to Sunday: closed
Families come from Harrisonburg and throughout Rockingham County, including Bridgewater, Broadway, Elkton, McGaheysville, Massanutten, Timberville and Dayton.
See Giardina Orthodontics on Google Maps, with directions, photos and patient reviews.
Airway orthodontist questions in Harrisonburg
Does an airway orthodontist treat sleep apnea?
An orthodontist does not diagnose sleep apnea. That takes a sleep study ordered by a physician. Once it is diagnosed, Giardina Orthodontics says it works with sleep physicians, and its sleep apnea page says MARPE may be an option for some adults and is not right for every case. 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. Giardina Orthodontics offers a free first visit with no referral needed, and kids who are not ready for treatment can be monitored in its Kids Club. 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, Invisalign aligners, or a referral for surgically assisted expansion in significant cases 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. A palatal expander has an active phase of a few weeks, when the key is turned at home, followed by several months of holding the new width while new bone fills in. Braces or Invisalign after expansion add more time. The practice gives you a timeline at the consultation.
What does airway orthodontic treatment cost without insurance?
The practice's own pricing page lists braces at about $3,000 to $8,000 and Invisalign at about $2,800 to $8,500, and it does not publish a price for palatal expanders or MARPE. Those figures are the practice's general estimates. After the free first visit, the team gives you a treatment plan and a cost estimate. You can read about financing and insurance before you go.
Does insurance cover airway orthodontic treatment?
Coverage varies by plan. Giardina Orthodontics is in network with Delta Dental and files claims for out-of-network plans on your behalf. It cannot guarantee coverage, but staff can review your benefits before your first visit if you call (540) 433-8814. The practice also offers interest-free in-house payment plans and CareCredit.
Do I need a referral to see an airway orthodontist?
Giardina Orthodontics says you do not need a referral to be seen. If your child's dentist or pediatrician has already raised a concern, bring their notes to the first visit.
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.
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 Harrisonburg? 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 Giardina Orthodontics team
The team at Giardina 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.