Airway Focused Orthodontics
Airway Focused Aligners
The right aligner — or braces — for your unique case.
Conventional aligners move teeth into whatever space exists. Airway focused aligners work to develop the arch and create the proper structural foundation — then straighten the teeth into it.
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What Makes Them Different
Not just straight. Structurally correct.
Standard aligners — including most popular clear aligner brands — focus on moving teeth esthetically within the existing arch. If the arch is narrow, the teeth are straightened into that narrow arch. The result may look straight, but the underlying structural problem remains — and crowding often returns over time.
Airway focused aligners take a broader view. Treatment planning considers the width of the arch, the position of the tongue, the function of the airway, and the relationship between the upper and lower jaws — not just how the teeth look from the front. The goal is to develop the structure and then straighten the teeth into it.
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- Arch development is the priority — not just esthetic alignment
- Considers tongue posture, arch width, and airway function in treatment planning
- Works to eliminate the structural causes of crowding, not just the crowding itself
- Combined with palatal expansion when needed for full structural correction
- Reduces the risk of relapse by addressing the root cause — not just the symptom
Airway Focused Treatment vs Conventional
Spark Clear Aligners
Our Treatment Options
The right solution for your case.
For our airway focused aligner treatment, we use Spark Clear Aligners — widely regarded as among the clearest, most comfortable, and most precise aligners available. Spark aligners are made from TruGEN™ material, which maintains clarity longer and fits more precisely than many competing products.
Spark aligners are also the aligner system used in combination with the DOME Expander — allowing expansion and straightening to happen simultaneously in one integrated treatment.
- Spark TruGEN™ material — clearer and more stain-resistant than standard aligners
- Precise fit — more predictable tooth movement
- Comfortable to wear and easy to remove
- Integrated with the DOME Expander protocol for combined expansion + alignment
- Overseen by Dr. Claudia Pinter — orthodontist and DOME protocol developer
Who Benefits Most
Is airway focused aligner treatment right for you?
Recurrent Crowding
If your teeth keep crowding back after previous orthodontic treatment, the arch was likely never widened to accommodate them properly. Airway focused aligners address the root cause.
TMJ & Airway Symptoms
If you have TMD pain, mouth breathing, disrupted sleep, or have been told you have a narrow arch — airway focused treatment addresses the structural contributors alongside the alignment.
Wanting More Than Straight Teeth
If you want orthodontic treatment that considers your whole health — not just how your teeth look — airway focused alignment is the right approach for you.
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Ready for the Right Approach?
Straight teeth. The right way.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Patrice Winterholler to discuss whether airway focused aligner treatment is right for you — and what a complete airway orthodontic plan would look like for your case.
Scottsdale
13825 N Northsight Blvd, Suite 120
Mon–Thu 8–5 · Tue 7–5 · Fri 8–1
(480) 767-8400
Payson
315 E State Highway 260
Mon–Thu 8am – 5pm
(928) 474-2200
