Everything you need to know
about your Airway Health
What’s included in my “airway”?
Your “airway” can be divided into upper and lower sections, each playing an important role in bringing oxygen into your body.
The upper airway includes:
- Nasal cavities - the openings leading from your nostrils to your sinuses, where most of your air intake should take place
- Sinuses - these cavities in your skull filter and humidify the air you breathe before it travels further into your system.
- Pharynx - better known as the throat, this tube moves food and air into their respective conduits to get nutrients to your body.
- Larynx - the pharynx will move air here (your voice box), where it’s directed into the lungs. It also prevents food from entering your windpipe and helps us produce sound.
The lower airway is comprised of:
- Trachea - this all important passageway (aka your windpipe) warms and humidifies air, as well as trapping dust and other foreign particles as it sends the air into your lungs.
- Bronchi and bronchioles - like a tree’s branches, the bronchi and bronchioles carry the filtered air eventually into your lungs alveoli to perform the gas exchange necessary for life.
![Comprehensive Airway Evaluation in Chicago, IL Chicago]()
What is airway dysfunction?
Quite simply, it’s when something isn’t working properly at some point in your airway. This is most commonly a narrow or obstructed airway which leads to improper breathing. This can be due to a number of factors:
- Anatomical variations
- Enlarged tissues (think tonsils, adenoids, sinuses)
- Nasal obstructions
Our bodies attempt to compensate for this with muscular adaptations that can lead to life long issues if not treated properly. Some symptoms of airway dysfunction you might notice:
- Open mouth
- Mouth breathing
- Low tongue
- Bags under your eyes
- Forward Head posture
- Rounded Shoulders
What’s involved in a comprehensive airway evaluation?
At this 70 minute visit, we gather all the data we need to form a diagnosis of your airway health. In preparation for your appointment, you will be asked to fill a questionnaire , which helps us better understand your habits and symptoms. The appointment starts with our dental assistant, who will:
- Take a CBCT scan of your head and neck - this will include a TMJ scan
- Facial photos
- Retracted photos of your teeth
- Photos of your tongue
- Digital Scan of your teeth and bite
They’ll also set you up with your home sleep test, an integral part of your evaluation.
You’ll then meet with our myofunctional therapist Leslie, and/or Dr. Isabella. They will:
- Conduct a thorough evaluation of your facial and oral structures to identify any muscle weakness or compensations.
- Take precise measurements and observe video footage of you chewing, swallowing both liquids and solids and your breathing patterns
- Evaluate tongue for possible ties or other dysfunctions
- Evaluate posture
What treatment options are out there?
Once you’ve taken your sleep test and gone through the comprehensive airway evaluation, you’ll meet with Dr. Isabella or Leslie again to go over the results and any emergent diagnoses. From there you’ll be able to discuss what of our treatment options may benefit you:
Why should we care about your airway?
You may be wondering why we as dentists care so much about your airway. In no uncertain terms, your airway plays a pivotal role in your overall health, and dentists - with their focus already in that area - are uniquely suited to help diagnose and treat dysfunction. In fact, in 2017 the ADA made a strong recommendation for dentists to screen and treat patients for certain airway diseases because of the importance of proper airway function.
At Strobel Dentistry, we believe in treating the patient, not just the symptoms. Breath is life, and proper breathing/airway function is the foundation for a healthy working body. Because we are well positioned to make these diagnoses, we believe it a critical part of our service to the community to focus on airway health. Book an evaluation today to see how we can help you!
Find the Answers
Start your journey with Strobel Dentistry in Chicago
Parking Validation
If driving, we validate for a discounted parking rate at the following location: Interpark: 20 E. Randolph is located at the intersection of Wabash and Randolph.
We are proud to offer exceptionally experienced, compassionate, and comprehensive Chicago dental care to our patients. Contact us today or schedule an appointment online to take the first step toward your best experience and results.
