In this presentation Dr. Bill Hang explains how orthodontic treatment can influence airway health. He introduces BioBlock Orthotropics, a holistic, early‑intervention approach that advances the upper and lower jaws forward to create a more open facial structure and a healthier airway. He argues that conventional orthodontic practices—especially extractions and retraction of front teeth—often cause the jaws to recede, narrowing the airway and degrading facial aesthetics, which can lead to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Dr. Hang cites research indicating OSA is a prevalent chronic disease linked to hypertension, stroke, heart attacks, and other serious conditions, and he suggests that orthodontic correction can be a permanent solution to OSA symptoms. Using a cross‑section diagram, he visualizes normal airflow versus the compromised airway after jaw recession, describing how soft palate and tongue collapse during sleep. He emphasizes that orthodontic treatment should aim not only for straight teeth but also for long‑term health and optimal facial appearance, especially when treating children between ages 3 and 9, and when reversing adverse effects in adults.
Chapters
Hi, I'm Dr. Bill Hang, and I want to share with you one of the key components of what makes Face-Focused Orthotics unique: your airway. Your airway is critical to your health and longevity and can be affected either positively or negatively by orthodontic treatment. BioBlock Orthotropics is our preferred treatment for children. It is a holistic treatment that is designed to optimize facial appearance and airway function by developing the upper and lower jaws forward in the face. For best results, we like to see children as early as age 3 or 4 And certainly no later than age 9. Many adults come to us dissatisfied with the results of their previous orthodontic treatment. These treatments have often involved removing permanent teeth and then retracting the front teeth back in the face. Extraction and retraction can narrow the airway. A large segment of our practice consists of patients for whom we are reversing both the adverse airway consequences And the negative aesthetic effects of these treatments. According to a prominent Harvard-trained researcher, obstructive sleep apnea is becoming the most common chronic disease in all industrialized countries. OSA can increase the likelihood of high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and other life-threatening conditions. You may be surprised to learn that orthodontics can play a critical role in a permanent solution to eliminating obstructive sleep apnea symptoms. On your screen is a cross-section diagram of the human head. In this diagram, the lower jaw and tongue and upper jaw and palate are forward in the face. This facial structure creates a healthy, open airway and is the result we strive for with BioBlock Orthotropics. The black dot on your screen represents the air we breathe. Watch as it passes freely through the nose, past the soft palate and tongue, and down into the lungs. That, in simplified terms, is how a healthy airway works. Many adult patients I see are dissatisfied with changing facial appearance they feel was brought on by previous orthodontic care. Here's what I believe happened to them. After their permanent teeth were extracted and/or the front teeth were pulled back, The upper and lower jaws began to recede back into the face. As the jaws moved back, the soft tissues attached to them, specifically the soft palate and the tongue, moved back as well. Facial appearance deteriorated and the airway narrowed dramatically. There are a variety of treatments that can address the aesthetic concerns of the patient and often improve the health of the airway. If the airway is allowed to continue to narrow, it becomes more likely that the airway will close completely during sleep. This is called obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. Watch the black dot again. When the muscle tone is diminished during sleep, the soft palate and/or the tongue can fall back and completely close the airway for extended periods of time. Nothing good happens when breathing stops. From my perspective, getting straight teeth is but a very small part of your orthodontic picture. Not only do we want you to look great, We want you to live a long and healthy life.
