Chronic fatigue, mouth breathing, poor sleep, clenching, and underdeveloped jaws are often connected to one overlooked issue: restricted or dysfunctional airway development. In our practice, airway health isn’t an afterthought—it’s central to everything we do.
When it comes to Airway and Sleep Disfunction, Dr. Tovar often collaborates with sleep physicians, orthodontists, and therapeutic specialists, to ensure each patient receives comprehensive, coordinated support.
These treatments are designed to identify and address the structural and functional factors that influence breathing, muscle balance, and sleep at every age, with the right specialists involved at the right time.
Orthodontic treatment in our practice is about more than straight teeth. We use orthodontics as a tool to support healthy jaw development, create airway space, and stabilize muscle function. Treatment plans are designed to work in harmony with breathing, posture, and long-term structural balance. When a patient’s needs are best served with traditional bracket-and-wire orthodontics, Dr. Tovar collaborates closely with trusted orthodontic partners to ensure comprehensive, coordinated care.
CandidPro aligners offer a discreet, airway-conscious option for patients with mild to moderate crowding or spacing. Unlike aligners that focus solely on aesthetics, CandidPro—combined with Dr. Tovar’s advanced training—supports proper tongue space and jaw alignment as part of a broader functional approach. For cases that fall outside aligner therapy, we coordinate seamlessly with orthodontists who provide traditional braces so every patient receives the most appropriate treatment for their needs.
At-home sleep studies help screen for conditions such as upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and obstructive sleep apnea. While Dr. Tovar is not a sleep physician and does not diagnose sleep disorders, she reviews sleep study data in the context of CBCT imaging and functional records to assess airway and structural contributors. When findings suggest moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing or require medical diagnosis and management, care is coordinated with a qualified sleep physician for formal diagnosis and treatment planning.
Temporomandibular joint disorders are managed through oral appliance therapy, targeted muscle retraining, and photobiomodulation (red light therapy). We also collaborate with specialists like craniosacral therapists for systemic support. The goal is to stop joint degeneration, resolve pain, and end nighttime muscle clenching.
We use high-resolution intraoral photos and scans as part of every diagnostic process. These images help us evaluate the airway, bite, and jaw development with clarity. Imaging is taken at key points throughout treatment so we can track changes, plan precisely, and make informed decisions as care progresses.
