Aviara Ortho in Los Alamitos
Orthopedic and orthodontic therapy
Guiding natural jaw growth supports healthy breathing and facial harmony. Aviara Ortho uses airway-focused orthopedics and orthodontics to guide the jaws and make room for the tongue and the airway.
Why the airway comes first
A beautiful smile reflects healthy breathing, facial development and structural balance. That is why we look at how the jaws are growing before we move a single tooth.
- Jaw growth determines airway size
- Narrow jaws contribute to sleep problems
- Airway-focused orthopedics reduces relapse
- Proper alignment supports TMJ stability
What we treat
Your evaluation looks at facial growth, jaw development, airway space and bite function.
- Crowding and narrow arches
- Underdeveloped jaws
- Poor facial growth patterns
- Orthodontic relapse
How we treat it
We do our best to avoid removing teeth to make room. Where we can, we widen the jaw instead, so the mouth has healthy space to develop before braces or aligners begin.
- Airway-first expansion
- Orthopedic jaw development
- Orthodontic alignment
- Myofunctional therapy
Questions we often hear
Is it too late to straighten my teeth?
There is no age limit for orthodontics. Starting while the jaw is still developing is easier, and adult treatment can take a little more time, but our orthodontists can still help you reach a straight, healthy smile.
Do expanders help breathing?
A narrow palate or a crossbite can make breathing harder and is often linked with mouth breathing, snoring and sleep apnea. Widening the upper jaw with an expander also widens the nasal cavity, which can make breathing easier.
Are metal braces better?
Brackets and wires move the whole tooth, root to crown, so they suit more complex cases, such as teeth rotated more than 20 degrees or teeth that need to be raised or lowered. For more moderate bite problems, clear aligners can be a good, less visible choice.
Must teeth be removed before braces?
We do our best to avoid it, because every tooth matters to your oral health. A narrow palate also affects speaking, eating and breathing, and removing teeth does not address that. We prefer to widen the jaw first and then begin braces or aligners.
What happens if I do not wear my aligners for 22 hours a day?
Aim for at least 22 hours a day. Falling short once or twice is easy to recover from: you may need to wear each tray a little longer, or step back a tray or two if the current one no longer fits.
What age is best for braces?
Earlier is usually better, while the mouth is still growing. Between ages 8 and 14 the baby teeth give way to adult teeth and the jaw develops quickly, which lets us guide alignment well. Some children benefit from even earlier care.
Your care team
- Dr. Katherine Ahn Wallace, DDS Founder. Airway aesthetic dentistry, TMJ, sleep and orthodontics Diplomate, American Sleep and Breathing Academy
- Dr. Rita Chuang, DDS, ABO Airway orthodontics A board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Chuang studied at Cornell University and the University of Southern California, and completed her orthodontic residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
Begin with a conversation
Tell us what you are noticing, and we will help you decide where to start with Aviara Ortho.