Dr. Jeannie Moody

Leading Austin orthodontist Dr. Jeannie Moody of Moody Orthodontics believes it is her responsibility to bring the most advanced orthodontic technologies, techniques, and treatments to her patients. Her firm belief in looking at the entirety of a patient’s health has led to her innovative practice offering airway-centric orthodontics. “Today’s orthodontics should involve much more than providing straight teeth and should consider the underlying causes of the dental conditions,” she asserts. She takes a team approach to treating the whole person, often including an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT), sleep neurologist, myofunctional therapist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and general dentist.

What is Airway Orthodontics?

Many people do not know that oral habits affect the structure of a patient’s bite and palate, ultimately affecting how they breathe. Airway-centric orthodontics, also known as airway dentistry or airway-focused dentistry, is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the relationship between the airway, breathing, and oral health. According to The Centre for Integrated Orthodontics, in addition to addressing the teeth, airway orthodontics aims to examine the root causes of what is causing the teeth to be crooked. It is used to help treat conditions such as sleep apnea, mouth breathing, abnormal facial growth, forward head posture, and TMJ. Research has discovered that many childhood and adult sleep issues are related to undiagnosed oral development concerns.

Why is Airway Dentistry Important?

Every tissue and cell in the body relies on a constant supply of oxygen to work properly. Getting that oxygen heavily relies on the oral structure and a healthy and properly functioning airway system, which is critical in fighting disease, getting proper sleep, and regulating mood and mental alertness.

Airway insufficiencies during sleep lead to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), sleep apnea, and many other problems. Airway-focused orthodontics recognizes that airway insufficiencies are more likely to occur due to structural issues in the airways, jaw, joints, or bite and seeks to correct these issues.

Common Signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB)

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) states that obstructive sleep apnea currently afflicts 25 million adults in the US, and 2-3% of children are believed to have the disorder.

Waking Throughout the Night
Snoring
Enlarged Tonsils/Adenoids
Facial and Jaw Malformations
Restlessness and Drowsiness During the Day
Moodiness
Short Attention Span or ADD/ADHD
Bedwetting

Common Health Issues Associated with SDB

Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Decreased Memory
Increased Anxiety
Depression
ADD and ADHD
Upper Respiratory Infections
Chronic Sinus Infections
Hypertension
Diabetes
Obesity
Chronic Pain
Hypothyroidism
Periodontal Disease

Top Advantages of Airway-Focused Dentistry

A well-functioning airway allows the body to get the oxygen it needs for a healthy life. Airway-focused orthodontics helps evaluate these vital systems and provide treatment to help correct any problems and improve health and quality of life.

Improved Breathing Functions. An adequately aligned airway and oral structure minimize mouth breathing and the chances of sleep apnea.
Improved Nasal Breathing. Airway-focused orthodontics supports proper jaw structure and addresses long-term breathing and sleep problems.
Comprehensive Treatment. Airway-focused orthodontics sees the patient as a whole. It provides treatments in light of correcting current problems using a variety of solutions, including oral appliance therapy (OAT) or preventing future airway problems by mitigating early growth and development issues.

Leading Orthodontist | Moody Orthodontics

The field of dental science is always expanding, and Dr. Jeannie Moody of Moody Orthodontics strives to be at the forefront by offering the newest, proven, and most beneficial treatments available today, including airway orthodontics.

The specialized training of an airway dentist makes them one of the ideal professionals to identify a sleep-breathing disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea, that other medical professionals could miss. Dr. Moody recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms of disturbed sleep see a professional.

For more information about Dr. Jeannie Moody or her practice, Moody Orthodontics, she can be reached at (512) 447-6453.

Dr. Jeannie Moody

2500 W William Cannon Dr

Ste 102

Austin, Tx 78745

(512) 447-6453