Your kid’s mouth is crowded, and the plan you were handed feels wrong. Wait a few years, then pull some teeth, then do braces. Something about that nags at you. Pulling healthy teeth to make room? There has to be a better way to think about this.
There is. Crowded teeth and mouth-breathing often share one cause: an airway that didn’t grow wide enough. Fix the cause, and the teeth have somewhere to go.
We offer children’s airway orthodontics for Denver families, right here in Lakewood near Washington Park. Call us at (720) 783-5424 to book a growth and airway evaluation.
When Crowded Teeth Are an Airway Signal
Crowding rarely shows up alone. Look at the whole picture and a pattern appears.
Here’s what to watch for alongside crowded teeth:
- Sleeping or sitting with the mouth open
- Snoring at night
- A narrow, high palate
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Restless, broken sleep
Why does the standard “wait and extract” plan miss this? It treats crowding as a spacing problem to solve later. But the crowding is often a sign that the jaws grew too narrow, which is the same thing crowding the airway. Pulling teeth straightens the smile without ever opening the airway.
Guided Growth Instead of Just Braces
Airway orthodontics takes a different path. Instead of removing teeth to fit a small jaw, we help the jaw grow to fit the teeth.
We use gentle expansion and growth-guiding appliances like HealthyStart, Myobrace, and palatal expanders. These widen the dental arch and open up the airway at the same time. The teeth get room. The breathing gets room.
This works best while your child is still growing. The young face is flexible and responds well to guidance. That window is part of why timing matters so much.
Why Early Treatment Changes the Outcome
Here’s the heart of it. You can steer how the face grows, or you can spend years compensating for how it grew.
Guiding the jaws wide and forward now sets up a roomier airway and a mouth with space for every tooth. Wait too long, and you’re left correcting a pattern that already locked in. When it helps, we pair the orthodontics with myofunctional therapy to retrain the muscles too.
Picture a kid who breathes through their nose. Who sleeps deep and wakes up rested. Who grows right into their smile instead of fighting for room. That’s what early treatment makes possible.
Coming From Washington Park (Driving Directions)
We’re an easy drive from Wash Park. From Washington Park, take Alameda Ave west to Wadsworth Blvd, then head south to 3900 S Wadsworth. It runs about 18 minutes.
Parking is free right at the office, and our space is built for families.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is airway orthodontics and how is it different from braces?
Airway orthodontics guides how the jaws grow to open the airway, not just straighten teeth. Traditional braces move teeth into line, sometimes after pulling a few. Airway orthodontics widens the arch so teeth and breathing both have room. It treats the cause, not only the look.
What age should my child near Wash Park start?
Many children start between ages 5 and 10, while the face is still growing. Earlier evaluation helps us catch narrow growth before it sets. That said, every child is different. An evaluation tells us the right time for yours.
Can this really reduce the need for extractions or future braces?
Yes, guided growth can reduce the need for extractions and lower the odds of heavy braces later. By widening the arch early, we make room teeth would otherwise lack. It doesn’t guarantee zero future treatment. But it often means less of it.
Does my child need myofunctional therapy too?
Often yes, because therapy retrains the muscle habits behind mouth-breathing. Orthodontics opens the space, and therapy helps your child use it with proper tongue posture and nasal breathing. The two work well together. We’ll tell you if your child needs both.
How far are you from Washington Park?
Our Lakewood office is about 18 minutes from Washington Park. Take Alameda Ave west to Wadsworth Blvd, then south to 3900 S Wadsworth Blvd.
Book a Growth & Airway Evaluation
You don’t have to accept “wait and pull teeth” as the only plan. Let’s look at whether your child’s crowding is really an airway signal.
A growth and airway evaluation is a calm first step. We’ll check how your child breathes, sleeps, and grows, then explain your options plainly. Real answers for Denver metro families.
Untethered Airway Health Center 3900 S Wadsworth Blvd #625, Lakewood, CO 80235 (720) 783-5424
Hours:
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Friday: By Appointment Only
- Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Call (720) 783-5424 to book a growth and airway evaluation. Want to learn more first? Read about children’s airway orthodontics in Lakewood, meet your Lakewood airway dentist, or see the Colorado areas we serve.
