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Airway Dentistry
Breathe Easy with Airway Dentistry

Does your oral or facial structure interfere with breathing, especially at night? We want to help.

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Airway Dentistry in South Charlotte, NC

Airway dentistry examines the connection between your oral and facial structures and how they impact your airway, particularly during nighttime breathing.

Your airway dentist in Charlotte understands how the mouth, throat, jaws, and even your teeth can impact the way you breathe and why breathing correctly is vital to many body systems and your overall health.

Woman covering her ears with a pillow, south charlotte ncSigns of airway breathing issues may include, but are not limited to:

  • Snoring
  • Restless sleep
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Irritability
  • Mouth breathing
  • Tooth wear
  • Dry mouth
  • Tooth decay
  • Jaw or face pain

Airway dentistry focuses on treatment planning and solutions to help you sleep safely and comfortably throughout the night, allowing for regular, patterned breathing.

Quick Facts: Airway Dentistry at a Glance

  • Primary Focus: Evaluating how your oral anatomy (jaw, tongue, and teeth) impacts your breathing and sleep quality.
  • Common Symptoms: Snoring, daytime fatigue, mouth breathing, and chronic jaw or neck pain.
  • The Goal: To prevent the collapse of airway tissues during sleep and restore natural, patterned breathing.
  • Key Conditions: Often used to treat Sleep Apnea, TMJ disorders, and narrow dental arches.
  • Treatment Options: Range from myofunctional therapy (exercises) and custom oral appliances to orthodontics.
  • Long-Term Benefits: Reduces the risk of severe health complications like stroke, high blood pressure, and cardiac arrest.

Why Choose Dental Wellness of Charlotte for Your Airway Dentistry Needs?

We offer personalized dental care for patients of all ages, providing advanced treatments and services. Below, we share just a few more reasons to choose Dental Wellness of Charlotte for your airway dentistry evaluation and treatment.
Personalized Treatment Planning
At Dental Wellness of Charlotte, we consider the whole patient and provide customized care to underscore that patient-centered consideration.
Consider Maxillofacial Expertise
Dentists are maxillofacial experts who possess a unique understanding of oral anatomy and its relationship to function and breathing.
Ongoing Education and Innovation
Dr. Sergei Shirman holds advanced educational credentials and continues to study and learn about the latest advances in dentistry.

Frequently Asked Questions

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We serve patients from all locations, but many come to us from nearby neighborhoods, such as:

  • Ballantyne
  • Dilworth
  • Myers Park
  • North Davidson
  • Plaza Midwood
  • And So Many Others

The Dental Wellness team of Charlotte loves the community and outlying areas and is always thrilled to welcome new patients and families.

About Dental Wellness of Charlotte, NC

We are a family dental practice treating patients of all ages, including children, seniors, and everyone in between.

Besides general dentistry, we’re pleased to offer advanced services to our area patients, including:

  • Laser Dentistry
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Emergency Dentistry
  • Tooth Replacement
  • Cosmetic Restorations
  • TMJ Therapy
  • Bruxism Treatment
  • Sedation Dentistry
  • Orthodontic Treatment

As much as possible, we like to keep your dental care in a single location with the team you trust. When you visit Dental Wellness of Charlotte, you can count on a warm greeting and team members who are genuinely happy to see you. You’re our friend, and never a name and number on the daily schedule. We enjoy answering your questions and caring for your smile.

Contact Your Dentist in South Charlotte Today

To learn more or to book your first appointment, contact a dental team member at (704) 317-7337 to get started. Remember to ask about our Dental Wellness Club and current specials.

We use advanced imaging technology, including CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) scanners, to thoroughly evaluate your airway. This assessment helps identify restrictions or issues that may affect breathing, sleep quality, and overall health.

Advanced 3D Imaging for Airway Assessment

CBCT technology provides detailed three-dimensional images of your airway, sinuses, jaw structure, and surrounding tissues. Unlike traditional x-rays that show a flat, two-dimensional view, CBCT scans allow our dentist in Charlotte, NC, to see the exact size and shape of your airway from multiple angles.

This level of detail helps identify:

  • Narrow or restricted airway passages
  • Enlarged tonsils or adenoids affecting breathing
  • Structural issues in the nasal passages
  • Jaw positioning that may contribute to airway problems
  • Tongue position and its effect on the airway during sleep

Comprehensive Airway Evaluation

Beyond imaging, we perform a thorough clinical exam and discuss your symptoms. We ask about snoring, daytime fatigue, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, and other signs that may indicate airway issues.

This approach allows us to target treatment recommendations to address the root cause of airway concerns rather than just managing symptoms.

Schedule an Airway Evaluation

If you're experiencing symptoms like chronic snoring, disrupted sleep, or persistent fatigue, contact Dental Wellness of Charlotte to schedule an airway evaluation. Our advanced diagnostic technology provides the detailed information needed to develop an effective treatment plan.

Airway dentistry can help address TMJ disorders and sleep apnea because these conditions are often related. Issues like restricted airways, jaw positioning, and breathing problems often contribute to or worsen both TMJ pain and sleep-disordered breathing.

The Connection Between Airway, TMJ, and Sleep Apnea

When your airway is restricted during sleep, your body compensates by repositioning the jaw forward to keep the airway open. This constant muscular effort can strain the temporomandibular joint, leading to pain, clicking, and dysfunction. TMJ issues can also affect jaw position, which in turn can narrow the airway and contribute to sleep apnea.

Many patients with sleep apnea also experience:

  • Morning jaw pain or soreness
  • Teeth grinding (bruxism)
  • Headaches upon waking
  • Clicking or popping in the jaw joint

How Airway Dentistry Helps Both Conditions

At Dental Wellness of Charlotte, our airway dentistry approach evaluates airway anatomy, jaw position, and breathing patterns during sleep. Custom oral appliances can provide relief from both conditions by supporting proper jaw alignment and ensuring that air flows freely during sleep. 

Book an Evaluation to Get Started

Your dentist in Charlotte, NC, will conduct a comprehensive exam to determine whether airway issues are contributing to your TMJ problems or sleep apnea. Please call Dental Wellness of Charlotte to schedule an appointment.

Common Conditions Linked to (or that Cause) Airway Breathing Issues

Most of the airway issues we diagnose and treat deal with anatomical anomalies caused by the following issues:

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing multiple times during the night. Without a diagnosis and treatment, sleep apnea can lead to severe health complications, such as cardiac arrest, stroke, weight gain, and high blood pressure.

Signs of sleep apnea include:

  • Snoring
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Mood changes

Without treatment, sleep apnea presents a serious health risk.

TMJ

Woman holding her jaw in pain, south charlotte ncTMJ refers to disorders of the temporomandibular joints, which connect your lower jaw to your skull. When these joints are inflamed or compromised, you may hear a popping sound when opening and closing your mouth, jaw locking, and head, neck, ear, and shoulder pain. If TMJ is related to bruxism (teeth grinding), you may also experience tooth wear, tooth decay, and fractures.

Orthodontic Issues

Orthodontic issues are not always obvious. Bite alignment issues or a narrow arch may not be immediately noticeable. However, specific orthodontic problems contribute to TMJ, bruxism, mouth breathing, tooth fractures, and decay. Alignment issues can lead to airway breathing disorders.

Anatomical Issues

Anatomical abnormalities may be present at all times. However, in conditions like sleep apnea, the tissues collapse over the airway during sleep, leading to recurring episodes of breathing cessation.

  • Dr. Sergei Shirman DMD

    Dr. Sergei Shirman developed a passion for dentistry at the age of twelve, combining his artistic interests with his medical aspirations. He attributes his appreciation for the artistry of dentistry to one of the most fulfilling aspects of his profession.

     

    Dr. Shirman earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Cleveland State University. During his undergraduate studies, he actively participated in a genetic research project that was subsequently published in a scientific journal. He graduated from Case Western Reserve ...

    Read More

Your Airway Evaluation and Treatment

Your Charlotte dentist is a maxillofacial expert, so who better to evaluate your patterned breathing or assess you for airway dentistry intervention?

Tooth with a stethoscope on it, south charlotte ncAfter a comprehensive consultation and potential diagnosis, your dentist creates a personalized treatment plan specifically tailored to you.

Treatments may include, but are not limited to:

  • Targeted exercises
  • Myofunctional therapy
  • Oral appliance therapy-airway
  • A nightguard
  • Orthodontics
  • Surgical intervention

Your dentist will lay out all treatment options suitable for your case and discuss them with you. This helps you make an informed and collaborative decision about your care.

For Airway Dentistry in Charlotte, Contact Us Today

We are committed to providing you with a safe and comfortable sleep and a normal breathing experience through the airway. To learn more or schedule a consultation with the dentist, please contact us today at (704) 317-7337. Alternatively, you can reserve an appointment slot online.

Remember to ask about our current specials and exclusive Dental Wellness Club. 

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