aligned. Functional + Cosmetic Orthodontics
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The Jaw-Sleep Apnea Connection 🌙
Did you know that small jaws are literally what causes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in many cases? 😮 Jaw surgery, specifically maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) often with widening of the maxilla has shown remarkable results in treating the root cause of sleep apnea.
According to a meta-analysis by Holty and Guilleminault (2010), which included 627 adults with OSA, the mean Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) decreased from 63.9/hr to 9.5/hr after surgery! With a surgical success rate of 86% and a cure rate of 43.2%, jaw surgery is a game changer for those looking for a root-cause improvement for their sleep apnea! 📉✨
If you or someone you know struggles with OSA, exploring jaw surgery might lead to better sleep and improved health. Of course, you can try a CPAP, but this does not fix the root cause. Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep, including the person sleeping next to you 😬🫶🏼😴💤
06/20/2026
The reason teeth 🦷 are crowded - is simply because the jaws are too small!! This can look like a narrow upper jaw with rolled inwards lower teeth, a recessed lower jaw, recessed upper jaw, and/or both jaws recessed. For my own kids, I like to tackle small jaws early - while the adult teeth in the jaw are trying to find their runway - otherwise they’ll already start twisting and potentially going in the wrong direction if they’re squished in a small jaw. I recently expanded my 3.5-year-old’s upper jaw due to thumb sucking, which was causing a high, narrow palate with baby teeth crowding. This expansion not only broke the thumb sucking habit but also widened the palate and lower arch (to match the upper expansion), creating proper spacing between baby teeth.
Additionally, this process opens the nasal passageway, allowing for better airflow through the nose and providing room for the tongue within the wider palate - hence allowing the tongue to live more spread out and forward and less squished into the throat airway (opening the entire airway - nasal tip to base of tongue and below).
✨ Braces have come a long way in the last decade! ✨
Advancements in customized digital planning have revolutionized accuracy, ensuring that every bracket is perfectly shaped and glued on for optimal results. Combine this with MARPE/MASPE expansion techniques for teens and adults with narrow upper jaws, and we’re truly changing the game!
These innovations are not just about aesthetics; they significantly improve treatment time and reduce the number of appointments needed while enhancing alignment quality and even breathing.
**MARPE/MASPE Update**
Aligner 9 is in, and my gap is almost closed! 🎉 I’ve received so many requests to keep it that I’m tempted to bring it back. What do you think? 😜
Expansion: Currently at 2mm out of a total of 6mm expanded.
Nasal Breathing: Much improved! I’m experiencing more passive breathing with less resistance and decent airflow. However, I still find myself mouth breathing during those intense peleton rides.
Pain: None! 😌
Inflammation: Still a bit of irritation in some areas of the palatal tissue, but it’s manageable.
Food: The struggle continues! I’m still avoiding anything crunchy and chewy, which is a bit annoying.
🌟 MASPE 3.5 Week Update🌟
I’m genuinely impressed by how quickly my body has adjusted to this hunk of metal and six bone screws in my maxilla! Wow, humans are *incredibly* adaptable!
Speech: I really turned a corner around the two-week mark. My tongue has fully adjusted—no more soreness, and talking is much easier now. Honestly, I hardly think about it anymore!
Eating: It’s still a bit annoying, but it’s getting better. The Metal bands are tough to chew with. Right now, I’m sticking to eggs for breakfast, protein shakes for lunch, and meat and veggies for dinner. I’m avoiding anything crunchy, super chewy, or nuts. Watch out for long, cooked veggies—they can get stuck in the expander and down your throat, which is a choking hazard!
Pain: Surprisingly, I’ve experienced no pain since the placement. Maybe I’m just lucky?! I still don’t feel any pressure when I turn the expander. The only time my teeth get sore is when I change my aligners, but it’s totally manageable.
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1215 S Pearl Street
Denver, CO
80210
