Airway Orthodontics in Kent, WA

Airway orthodontics improves the size and function of the airway by guiding healthy jaw development - helping prevent or reduce sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea. At Advanced Orthodontics Kent, University of Washington-trained, board-certified orthodontist Dr. Gabriela Aragon offers airway-focused care for children, teens, and adults across the Kent area.

At Advanced Orthodontics Kent, we believe orthodontic care should support more than straight teeth - it should support your child’s full long-term health. Many parents first come to us about crowded or crooked teeth, not realizing those concerns often signal something deeper: a jaw that isn’t developing as it should, which can affect how a child breathes, sleeps, and grows. Airway orthodontics is a growth-focused approach to that bigger picture, and it’s an area board-certified orthodontist Dr. Gabriela Aragon trained in specifically during her residency at the University of Washington. If your child snores, breathes through their mouth, or sleeps restlessly, this page will help you understand why - and how we can help.

What Is Airway Orthodontics?

Airway orthodontics focuses on improving the size and function of the airway by guiding healthy jaw development. When the jaws are too narrow or positioned too far back, there isn’t enough room for the tongue and soft tissues - which can restrict airflow, especially at night. Using growth-focused techniques to widen and reposition the jaws, airway orthodontics creates more room for the tongue and opens the airway. This approach helps prevent or reduce issues such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) - conditions that can affect attention, mood, daytime energy, and long-term wellness - and it supports children, teens, and even adults working toward healthier breathing and better sleep.

Understanding OSA and Sleep Disordered Breathing

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep. Breathing pauses, the body struggles for oxygen, and the brain briefly stirs the body to force a breath - often without the person ever fully waking. Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) covers a broader spectrum, from snoring and mouth breathing to more complex airway blockages.

When this happens night after night, the body experiences real stress: it releases cortisol (the “fight or flight” hormone), heart rate rises, muscles tighten to reopen the airway, and deep, restorative sleep is repeatedly interrupted. Over time that nightly strain can affect immune strength, hormone balance, memory and learning, behavior and emotional regulation, digestion, and - in children - growth and development. Even a child who seems to “sleep through the night” may have a body that’s been working hard the whole time.

Signs of an Airway Problem in Children

Parents often notice changes in sleep, energy, or behavior long before anyone says “airway issue.” Common signs include:

Breathing-related: snoring, mouth breathing (especially during sleep), enlarged tonsils or adenoids, jaw or facial development concerns. Daytime: restless sleep or frequent waking, daytime drowsiness or low energy, irritability or mood swings, difficulty focusing or behaviors resembling ADD/ADHD, and bedwetting in some children.

Recognizing these early lets us step in sooner and support healthier growth.

What Causes Airway Issues?

Many airway problems develop simply because there isn’t enough space for the tongue and soft tissues. Common causes include enlarged tonsils or adenoids, a deviated septum or narrow nasal passages, narrow upper or lower jaws, recessed jaws, tongue-tie (restricted tongue movement), and chronic mouth-breathing habits.

How We Treat Airway Concerns

Airway orthodontics uses growth-oriented treatment to support better breathing and proper jaw development. Rather than relying on tooth extraction or methods that reduce space, Dr. Aragon focuses on creating room for the tongue and expanding the airway. Treatment may include:

• Jaw (palatal) expansion
• Upper or lower jaw advancement
• Guided-growth appliances
• Early orthodontic intervention to influence jaw development
• Collaboration with ENT specialists for tonsil/adenoid or nasal-airway support
• Evaluation of tongue posture and possible tongue-tie release

Research shows the best outcomes happen when orthodontic treatment and airway-focused medical care work together.

Why Choose Dr. Aragon for Airway Orthodontics in Kent?

Airway-focused orthodontics calls for specialized training, and it’s a genuine focus of Dr. Aragon’s practice. She gained advanced experience in airway-focused treatment during her orthodontic residency at the University of Washington, and as a board-certified orthodontist she brings that expertise to growing families across Kent. It’s also a differentiator in our area - few Kent practices emphasize airway health the way we do - which means local families don’t have to travel far for this kind of care.

When Should My Child Be Evaluated?

If you notice concerns with your child’s breathing, sleep, or facial growth, the best time to schedule an evaluation is as soon as possible - early identification leads to better long-term results. While the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic exam around age 7, many children with airway concerns benefit from evaluation at age 6 or earlier (with a dentist referral). Our team in Kent offers a free consultation to help you understand whether treatment is needed and what the next steps are.

Schedule a Free Airway Evaluation in Kent

If your child snores, breathes through their mouth, or struggles with restless sleep, an airway evaluation is a powerful first step. Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Gabriela Aragon at Advanced Orthodontics Kent - call (253) 852-7210 or request your appointment online. We’re located at 331 3rd Ave S in downtown Kent, serving families across Kent, Covington, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, and Maple Valley.