Best Airway Orthodontists in Colorado
An airway orthodontist looks at how the jaws and palate affect breathing, sleep and the bite. In Colorado we chose practices by reading patient reviews, checking what each practice publishes about airway care, and confirming the doctor’s training in public records.
Right now the guide lists one Colorado practice, aligned. Orthodontics in Denver, where Dr. Amanda Vanderstelt sees kids and adults in Platt Park. A practice joins the list only when it passes the same checks.
Where to find an airway orthodontist in Colorado
aligned. Orthodontics sees families from Denver and the south and east metro, including Englewood, Littleton, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and Aurora.
Denver, CO
aligned. Orthodontics on South Pearl Street in Platt Park. Dr. Amanda Vanderstelt leads the practice.
Know an airway orthodontist in Colorado who should be on this list? Recommend one.
What an airway orthodontist does
An airway orthodontist studies how the upper and lower jaws grow and how that growth shapes the space for breathing. Straight teeth matter, but they are only part of the goal.
Many families hear about it from a dentist, pediatrician or ENT who spots a narrow upper jaw, a child who snores, or a mouth that hangs open at rest.
The tools are orthodontic: palatal expanders for growing children, MARPE for some adults, and braces or aligners once there is room. Diagnosing sleep apnea is a physician’s job, usually with a sleep study.
Where an airway orthodontist can help
- A narrow upper jaw or palate that crowds the tongue and the nasal airway
- A crossbite, crowded teeth, or a bite that never lined up
- Mouth breathing that traces back to jaw shape
- Jaw clenching and a high, narrow palate that show up together
When it is not the answer
Enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies and nasal structure are medical causes, and treating the jaw does not fix them. A good airway orthodontist says so and sends you to the right doctor.
Signs worth an airway evaluation
Any one of these can have another cause, and none of them means treatment is needed. They are the usual reasons to ask for an evaluation.
In children
- Snoring or noisy breathing most nights
- Mouth breathing, day or night
- Restless sleep or bedwetting past the expected age
- Trouble focusing at school
- A crossbite, crowding or a narrow-looking smile
In adults
- Loud snoring
- Waking with jaw pain or headaches
- Clenching or worn teeth
- A dry mouth in the morning
- Crowding that returned after braces
If you ever see pauses in breathing, gasping or choking during sleep, call your doctor first. Not sure where you fall? Take the 1-minute airway quiz.
Colorado airway orthodontist questions
What is an airway orthodontist?
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An airway orthodontist is an orthodontist who looks at how the jaws and palate affect breathing, sleep and the bite. The treatments are orthodontic, such as palatal expanders for growing children and MARPE for some adults, and they work on the jaw side of the picture.
Does an airway orthodontist treat sleep apnea?
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No. Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a physician or sleep specialist, usually with a sleep study. An airway orthodontist finds jaw and bite problems that can add to poor breathing and sleep, treats the ones orthodontics can help, and works with your doctors on the rest.
How do you pick the best airway orthodontist in Colorado?
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We look at three things: what patients say in reviews, what the practice publishes about airway care, and whether the doctor’s training can be checked. Every practice has to pass the same checks.
Does this guide list every airway orthodontist in Colorado?
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No. It is not a directory. It lists only the practices that pass the checks, and right now that is one Denver practice.
Does aligned. Orthodontics see patients from outside Denver?
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Yes. The practice lists families from Englewood, Sheridan, Littleton, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Aurora and more, with off-peak drive times of about 5 to 25 minutes from the Platt Park office.
When should a child see an airway orthodontist?
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The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first check around age 7. A child with signs such as snoring, mouth breathing or a crossbite can be seen earlier, because symptoms matter more than age.
What should I ask before starting airway orthodontic treatment?
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Ask what the exam found, what the treatment can and cannot change, whether an ENT or sleep specialist should be involved, how long it takes and what it costs. A good answer is specific to your case and includes when the doctor would not treat.
Still have a question? Ask the team when you book.
Start with a consultation
If you have been wondering whether snoring, mouth breathing or crowded teeth share one cause, a visit at aligned. Orthodontics in Denver is the place to find out. Airway consultations are complimentary for children 13 and under.
Not in Colorado? Find an airway orthodontist near you.