Your questions, answered clearly.

Most dental and orthodontic practices focus on the position of teeth. At Growth and Airway, the question we ask first is: what caused the teeth to develop this way? Jaw structure, breathing patterns, tongue function, and posture are all connected. Addressing those underlying factors can produce more stable, lasting outcomes than tooth alignment alone.

No referral is needed. You can contact us directly to arrange an initial assessment for yourself or your child.

Yes. Growth and Airway serves both. Adults with jaw pain, sleep disruption, bruxism, and breathing difficulties make up a significant part of our practice, alongside children presenting with developmental concerns.

The work we do sits at the intersection of dental structure, breathing function, sleep health, and posture. Depending on your situation, care can involve orthodontic appliances, myofunctional therapy, soft tissue assessment, and co-ordination with other health professionals such as ENTs, osteopaths, or sleep medicine clinicians.

Early assessment can be valuable from around age five or six, when the first adult teeth begin to emerge and jaw development patterns become more apparent. That said, concerns at any age, including infancy, can be worth discussing with us.

Signs that can be worth exploring include: mouth breathing during the day or night, snoring, restless sleep, crowded or crooked teeth, a narrow jaw, difficulty chewing, prolonged thumb sucking, open mouth posture at rest, or speech difficulties. These are not guarantees of a problem, but they are worth looking at carefully.

Not necessarily. Some functional concerns, including tongue and lip ties, can be relevant from infancy. Early myofunctional therapy and gentle orthodontic guidance can be appropriate for younger children when there is a clear functional reason to act.

Jaw and airway development progresses most actively during childhood. Where structural and functional issues are present, leaving them unaddressed can mean more complex treatment is needed later. Children treated before the age of twelve to fourteen often achieve better structural correction than those treated in adulthood.

We carry out a thorough review of bite alignment, jaw position, facial development, breathing patterns, tongue function, and posture. Where appropriate, we use cone beam CT imaging to assess nasal and oral airway dimensions. We also look at tonsil and adenoid size, tongue tie, and soft tissue tone.

Snoring in children is common but not something to simply accept as normal. It can be a sign of airway resistance or paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea, both of which can affect sleep quality, behaviour, concentration, and development. An assessment can establish whether there is a structural or functional reason behind it.

Yes, they can. The jaw, neck, and head share muscle groups and structural relationships. Where jaw alignment is compromised, the muscles around the TMJ, temples, and neck can carry excess tension, which can contribute to headaches. Oral infections stemming from root canals or extraction sites can also cause inflammation in the jaw, ear, and surrounding tissues.

No. Adults can achieve meaningful functional improvements through orthodontic expansion, myofunctional therapy, and TMJ-focused care. Adult treatment tends to involve more layers of accumulated dysfunction compared to childhood cases, but that does not make it without value. The goal is functional restoration: better breathing, reduced jaw pain, and improved sleep, not cosmetic change.

Bruxism, the clenching and grinding of teeth, is frequently linked to airway restriction and disrupted sleep. Where the airway is compromised, the jaw can be pushed back and the muscles around it can overwork during sleep. Addressing the underlying structural and breathing factors, rather than simply fitting a night guard, can be a more complete approach.

It can. Mouth breathing and compromised airways lead to different muscle recruitment patterns compared to nasal breathing. Over time, those patterns influence how the bones of the head, neck, and back develop and how the body holds itself. Forward head posture is a common presentation in patients with long-standing airway and jaw dysfunction.

A detailed history of previous dental work is part of our assessment. We also evaluate for dental infections, including at old root canal and extraction sites, which can be symptom-free in the mouth but may contribute to systemic inflammation and joint pain. All of this is considered when planning care.

ALF stands for Advanced Light Force. It is a removable orthodontic appliance that applies very gentle, biologically compatible forces to guide jaw development and expand the dental arches. It works differently from rapid palatal expanders, which use heavy, fast forces. ALF treatment respects the natural mechanics of the cranial and facial structures, which can make it better suited to patients where cranial balance is a concern.

Myofunctional therapy is, in practical terms, physical therapy for the tongue and the muscles of the face and throat. It addresses tongue posture, range of motion, swallowing patterns, and the muscle coordination involved in breathing. It can be delivered in person or, in many cases, remotely. It is a core part of treatment for both children and adults where tongue or breathing dysfunction is present.

A tongue tie is a tight band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth. What matters clinically is not simply whether the tissue is present, but whether it limits tongue movement and function. Where it does, a functional release procedure can be considered, typically using laser-assisted techniques. Myofunctional therapy before and after the procedure is a key part of achieving a good outcome.

Treatment duration varies considerably depending on the patient's age, the conditions being addressed, and the combination of therapies involved. Childhood cases with straightforward structural concerns may resolve over twelve to twenty-four months. Adult cases involving TMJ dysfunction, sleep concerns, and layered structural issues can take longer. We will give you a realistic picture at your assessment.

No. We use slow, biological expansion techniques that work with the body's natural pace of development. We do not apply heavy or rapid forces to the jaw or palate.

A cone beam CT scan produces a three-dimensional image of the jaw, airway, and surrounding structures. It allows us to measure nasal and oral airway dimensions, assess tonsil and adenoid size, identify structural imbalances, and spot dental infections that do not show on standard X-rays. Not every patient requires one, but it is often a valuable part of a thorough assessment.

For some patients, structural and functional approaches, including airway orthodontics, myofunctional therapy, and tongue tie release, can contribute to reducing sleep-disordered breathing. The suitability of this approach depends on the severity of the condition and the individual's anatomy. We work alongside sleep medicine professionals where appropriate.

Growth and Airway is based in London and Edinburgh, UK. We welcome both local patients and those travelling from further afield.

Yes, parking is available at the practice. Please contact us if you need specific directions or accessibility information.

Please contact us directly for current availability and appointment times, as these can vary.

Fees depend on the type of assessment or treatment required. We will provide a clear breakdown of costs following your initial consultation, so there are no surprises. We are happy to discuss fee structures before you book if that would help you plan.

Yes. Myofunctional therapy sessions can be conducted virtually, which can suit patients who are not local or who prefer to continue therapy from home between in-person appointments.

You can book directly through the website or by calling us. No referral is required.