Orthodontics
Transverse maxillary deficiency, sagittal jaw relationships, dentoalveolar compensation, and occlusal correction.
Explore the roleElite Airway Specialists · Northern Virginia
Airway-focused care.
Four clinical disciplines.
Orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, general dentistry, and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Coordinating dentofacial development, occlusion, and orofacial function with the medical assessment of breathing and sleep concerns.
Start airway evaluation (opens in a new tab)Serving Northern Virginia, DC & Maryland
Integrated clinical disciplines
Four disciplines.
One coordinated clinical plan.
Pediatric dentistry
Mixed-dentition development, eruption, oral habits, functional assessment, and pediatric sleep-risk screening.
Explore the roleGeneral dentistry
Caries prevention, periodontal stability, restorative needs, and oral-health monitoring throughout coordinated treatment.
Explore the roleOral & facial surgery
Dentofacial skeletal discrepancies, orthognathic evaluation, and surgical planning for appropriately selected patients.
Explore the roleSwipe to explore all four disciplines
ENT, sleep medicine, and therapy providers join the conversation when their expertise is needed.
How our team works togetherProcedure animations
Understand the mechanism.
Evaluate the indication.
01 / Creating appropriate space
Rapid maxillary expansion
Transverse forces can produce skeletal and dentoalveolar change in an appropriately selected patient. The indication, skeletal maturity, anchorage, and periodontal support determine how expansion is planned and assessed.
Read the clinical treatment guideAnatomical illustration. Clinical assessment determines indication and candidacy.
02 / Structure & growth
Transverse maxillary development
Maxillary width is assessed relative to the mandibular arch, posterior tooth inclination, eruption, and occlusion. A wider dental arch and increased nasal dimensions describe different treatment endpoints.
Read the clinical treatment guideAnatomical illustration. Clinical assessment determines indication and candidacy.
03 / Complex structure. Coordinated care.
Maxillomandibular relationships
Orthognathic planning examines sagittal, vertical, and transverse skeletal discrepancies. Repositioning the jaws changes the skeletal framework and related soft tissues; sleep outcomes require separate medical assessment.
Read the clinical treatment guideAnatomical illustration. Clinical assessment determines indication and candidacy.
04 / Pediatric oral function
Lingual frenulum & tongue mobility
Ankyloglossia assessment connects restricted tongue movement with a documented functional limitation. Feeding, speech, and oral tasks require age-specific evaluation; appearance alone does not establish a surgical indication.
Read the clinical treatment guideAnatomical illustration. Clinical assessment determines indication and candidacy.
05 / Pediatric oral function
Maxillary labial frenulum
The labial frenulum is a normal anatomical structure. Assessment considers tissue tension, gingival health, dentition stage, and persistent diastema. Release requires a specific indication and is not an established sleep-apnea treatment.
Read the clinical treatment guideAnatomical illustration. Clinical assessment determines indication and candidacy.
The airway philosophy
Evaluate the structure.
Understand the function.
Guide development thoughtfully.
The whole person.
Breathing, sleep, jaw growth, and oral function belong in the same conversation.
A wider view.
Explore how the palate, jaws, and surrounding tissues shape the space available for healthy function.
Our philosophyPatterns worth noticing
Your observations
are a useful beginning.
What feels familiar?
Select the patterns you would like to discuss. This count organizes observations; it does not estimate disease risk.
0 / 20 selected
Select any patterns you have noticed.
Selections stay on this page and are not sent to the evaluation tool.
Several signs have more than one possible cause. Discuss concerns with an appropriate clinician.
Explore the signs guideResearch-informed care
More space can make
a meaningful difference.
Expansion can increase nasal airway dimensions in selected patients. Research has also reported changes in enlarged adenoid and tonsil tissues after expansion.
Observed in one 2022 pediatric study16.8%Average adenoid-volume reduction
38.5%Average tonsil-volume reduction
Explore the research library
Clinical perspective
Making room for development.
Follow the supplied Phase I sequence exploring crowding, arch development, and palatal expansion.
An individual clinical example. Dental changes do not establish a breathing or sleep outcome. Results and treatment needs vary.
Explore the clinical gallery
1 / 8
Clinical perspective
A different relationship.
A coordinated bite.
Explore the supplied crossbite sequence and how the upper and lower arches relate through care.
An individual clinical example. Dental changes do not establish a breathing or sleep outcome. Results and treatment needs vary.
Explore the clinical gallery
1 / 6
The clinical education hub
From an observation
to clinical understanding.
Explore dentofacial anatomy, respiratory physiology, diagnostic distinctions, and clinical evidence through video companions and detailed analysis.
Start here
When should a child’s snoring get a closer look?
Notice the patterns. Understand what an evaluation can tell you.
Watch & read
See the anatomy
What changes when the palate expands?
An animation, an anatomy guide, and the questions behind treatment.
Watch & read
Patient perspective
Starting an expander: what should you ask?
Use one patient’s post to prepare for your own treatment conversation.
Watch & readThe research library
Follow the questions.
Read the evidence.
Go deeper into the studies, professional guidelines, and educational resources that inform the airway conversation.
28curated resources
linked to their original sources
Browse all 28 research resourceslinked to their original sources
Study populations, methods, and limitations matter. Explore what each finding can—and cannot—tell us.
Selected readingFrom the librarySwipe to explore
Expansion, adenoids & tonsils — open original source in a new tab
Imaging changes in selected children with a narrow palate and enlarged tissues; findings do not guarantee a response.
Yoon et al. · Sleep MedicineExpansion & nasal breathing — open original source in a new tab
A review of nasal airflow and resistance. Uncontrolled studies limit certainty about cause and effect.
Calvo-Henriquez et al.A place in coordinated sleep care — open original source in a new tab
A conditional orthodontic option for selected children with persistent sleep apnea; evidence certainty is very low.
American Thoracic SocietyYour care pathway
A plan should make sense.
At every step.
01
Start with your story.
Use the online evaluation to organize what you have noticed about breathing, sleep, oral habits, and development.
02
Understand the findings.
A clinical assessment connects your concerns with the palate, jaws, bite, and function. Medical input is included when indicated.
03
Build a plan together.
Discuss observation, treatment, or additional evaluation. Each discipline contributes where its expertise is needed.
Rooted in Northern Virginia
Close to your community.
Connected to your care.
Falls Church
Fairfax CountyFairfax
Fairfax CountyWoodbridge
Prince William CountyLorton
Southern Fairfax CountyBealeton
Fauquier CountyPlanning a visit from DC or Maryland? Explore the Virginia locations and contact the team for care coordination.
Plan your visitStart with what you have noticed
A clearer next step.
More room to breathe.
Bring your breathing, sleep, and development concerns into one conversation. Begin with our online airway evaluation.
Start airway evaluation (opens in a new tab)Educational screening only. An in-person assessment determines diagnosis and treatment options.