Airway Orthodontics for Adults in Santa Rosa
- Personalized care for mature patients that optimizes breathing and sleep quality for overall well-being
What is airway orthodontics for adults?
Airway orthodontics for adults combines dental alignment with a holistic focus on respiratory health. While standard braces and Invisalign focus on straightening teeth and correcting bite issues for esthetic and functional purposes, airway orthodontics for adults targets underlying airway obstructions that can affect breathing, sleep quality, and overall health.
This approach often involves expanding the jaw and palate to create space in the airway, potentially alleviating conditions like sleep apnea or chronic snoring, which typical orthodontic treatments do not specifically target.
Who can airway orthodontics for adults help?
- Chronic snoring (sleep disordered breathing or SDB)
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- Mouth breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Speech articulation problems
- Tooth grinding and jaw clenching
- Chronic nasal congestion
- Fatigue or lack of mental acuity due to poor sleep
What does airway orthodontics for adults involve?
Airway orthodontics for adults evaluates and treats conditions that restrict airway volume and breathing efficiency, such as narrow jaws, jaw misalignment, tissue obstructions, and tongue position.
Common interventions include a palatal expander for adults to widen the upper jaw, surgery to re-align the jaw, or myofunctional therapy (exercises for the tongue, cheeks, and throat muscles) to improve tongue posture and airway function.
Click here to learn more about palatal expander for adults
Click here to learn more about jaw surgery's role in airway function
— Lorena V.
Santa Rosa, CA
Your expert for adult airway orthodontics in Santa Rosa
Dr. Lynskey is one of the most experienced orthodontists in the Bay Area, with three decades of clinical expertise in Santa Rosa and a professorship of orthodontics at UC San Francisco.
She has deep expertise in diagnosing and treating airway orthodontic issues in adults that impact their breathing, sleep quality, and energy levels.
Using advanced imaging technology, Dr. Lynskey can closely examine your airway and tongue to identify structural issues that will benefit from orthodontic treatment.
Come in for a consultation, discover your options, and get answers to your questions. It’s completely free of cost or obligation.
Meet Dr. Lynskey
Victoria Lynskey, DMD, MDS
Orthodontist Santa Rosa
Originally from New Zealand, Dr. Lynskey joined the American Association of Orthodontists in 1999. She is both a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry and a Master of Dental Surgery, in addition to being a Professor of Orthodontics at UC San Francisco.
She opened Lynskey Orthodontics in Santa Rosa in 2003, using state-of-the-art technology to create stunning, healthy smiles.
Dr. Lynskey Orthodontics by the numbers
Orthodontist in Santa Rosa
Professor of orthodontics at UCSF
Smiles revealed with braces
Smiles revealed with Invisalign
Combined team experience
— Ida W.
Santa Rosa, CA
Why choose Dr. Lynskey for airway orthodontics for adults?
Serving Sonoma County, including Santa Rosa, Windsor, and Rohnert Park, for over 25 years
You're in expert hands every step of the way.
Dr. Lynskey has been a certified orthodontist since 1999, and her Smile Squad are all Registered Dental Assistants with over 60 years of combined expertise.
Customized treatment delivers better outcomes.
You'll experience the latest in airway orthodontic technology that works in the least amount of time and with the least disruption to your lifestyle.
Your time matters to us.
Airway orthodontic care for adults should be as convenient as possible, so we provide a central Santa Rosa location, easy scheduling, remote monitoring where possible to reduce your office visits.
You're joining a community.
Alongside technical skill, we’re a group of enthusiastic, fun-loving professionals passionate about making your experience enjoyable and stress-free.
You're treated like family.
As your orthodontist, we provide you and yours a warm, friendly environment where you'll feel supported and well informed.
— James W.
Santa Rosa, CA
Airway orthodontics for adults in Santa Rosa: Insurance and financing
We believe nothing should stand in the way of healthy breathing and deep, restful sleep. For managing your adult airway orthodontic treatment, you have several options:
- We are in-network with PPO plans, including Delta Dental.
- We file your insurance claims and accept assignment of benefits (AOB).
- You can also access our in-office 0% financing plans with monthly payments as low as $200.
- We can also put you in contact with our trusted third-party financing partner.
— Kristie M.
Santa Rosa, CA
Airway orthodontics for adults in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County – It's easy!
Here’s how it works:
Book your free airway evaluation.
Learn about airway issues and treatment options, and get answers to your questions with zero pressure.
Get your customized treatment plan.
Dr. Lynskey and her team will customize your airway treatments to your specific needs.
Breathe easier and feel better.
Start sleeping better and feeling great as Dr. Lynskey and her team guide you every step of the way.
What to expect at Lynskey Orthodontics
At Dr. Lynskey's, you'll find a warm, welcoming space in Santa Rosa. Whether you're local, coming in from Windsor or Rohnert Park or heading to Coddingtown Center, Montgomery Village, or Santa Rosa Plaza, our office on Montgomery Drive is an easy fit for your routine.
— Helen P.
Santa Rosa, CA
Frequently asked questions
How is airway orthodontics different from regular braces or Invisalign?
Airway orthodontics differs from regular orthodontics by prioritizing airway function alongside teeth alignment. While braces and Invisalign mainly focus on straightening teeth and correcting crowding and bite issues for aesthetics and function, airway treatments address underlying jaw deformities and breathing obstructions that can affect oxygen intake, sleep quality, mental acuity, and overall health.
At Lynskey Orthodontics, our approach to airway orthodontics is to combine regular dental alignment with a holistic focus on respiratory health.
Can airway orthodontics for adults help me?
How is airway orthodontics for adults different from airway orthodontics for children?
Airway orthodontics for adults differs primarily due to developmental and anatomical factors. In children, whose facial bones are still growing and more malleable, airway orthodontics focuses on guiding jaw development and expanding the palate early to prevent or reduce airway obstruction. This early intervention can promote better long-term airway health and facial development.
Adult airway orthodontic treatments happen after facial growth is complete and bones are less flexible. Our adult airway patients often require more advanced techniques, such as jaw surgery, to expand the airway and correct alignment. So while airway orthodontics for children is primarily preventative, the focus for adults is on correction and management of existing airway conditions, like sleep apnea, that require integrated care beyond orthodontics alone.
What is a palatal expander for adults, and can it help with my breathing?
A palatal expander for adults is a small appliance placed across the roof of the mouth between the upper molars. It gradually exerts gentle outward pressure to widen the nasal passages and improve nasal airflow. This can fix problems associated with a too-narrow upper jaw, such as a restricted airway or tooth crowding and alignment issues. Not every adult will benefit from an expander, so we evaluate on a case-by-case basis.
The process is slower and more complex than for children, because adult jawbones have already fused. Adult treatment usually takes longer and sometimes requires surgical intervention to improve breathing or fix misaligned teeth and bite issues.
Click here to learn more about palatal expanders for adults or here to learn more about orthodontic jaw surgery.
What is the role of jaw surgery in airway orthodontics for adults?
Jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) is used when orthodontics alone cannot correct complex jaw and airway problems. Jaw surgery can establish a well-aligned skeletal foundation for airway-focused orthodontics, such as Invisalign, braces, and expanders.
At Lynskey Orthodontics, we collaborate closely with the best Sonoma County oral and maxillofacial (OMF) surgeons for our adult airway patients needing significant jaw structure adjustments.
What is myofunctional therapy in airway orthodontics for adults?
Myofunctional therapy retrains the muscles of the face, mouth, and tongue to improve breathing, swallowing, speech, and dental alignment. It uses exercises to correct muscle function and posture, promoting healthier oral and facial habits.
Can airway orthodontics for adults help with sleep disordered breathing and sleep apnea?
Yes, airway orthodontics for adults can play a role in treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by widening the upper jaw and expanding the nasal floor, which can increase oxygen flow during sleep.
Note that airway orthodontics alone is not a treatment for sleep apnea. Diagnosis and management of sleep apnea require medical professionals, and orthodontic care can complement these efforts by addressing airway issues when the cause of obstruction is related to jaw and dental alignment.
Does Lynksey Orthodontics offer financing options for airway orthodontics for adults in Santa Rosa?
At Lynskey Orthodontics, we strongly believe nothing should stand in the way of health care for you or your family. We offer our Santa Rosa and Sonoma County communities flexible monthly payment plans, 0% interest financing, and extended payment options.
Many insurance plans cover airway orthodontics for adults, and our team will assist by verifying your benefits, submitting the claims, and accepting assignment of benefits to help reduce your overall out-of-pocket expenses.
Airway orthodontic care is also an eligible medical expense for HSA or FSA plans, and many families use these funds toward treatment costs.
We’re happy to help you choose a financing option that fits your budget. Call 707-525-1180 or click here to speak with our team.
You can also learn more on our Insurance and Financing page, or schedule a complimentary consultation and we’ll be happy to answer any questions.
Do I need a referral to see Dr. Lynskey about airway orthodontics for adults in Santa Rosa?
No referral is needed – you can schedule a complimentary airway evaluation directly with our Santa Rosa office.