Dr Sheryl Smithies – Dentist Cape Town – Top Cape Town Aesthetic Dental Surgeon

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Airway And
Aligners

Dr. Sheryl Smithies offers innovative airway and aligners treatments in Cape Town.

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Why is Airway Health Important?

Breathing is the foundation of life. If we don’t breathe efficiently, every part of the body is affected at a cellular level, potentially leading to serious health issues such as high blood pressure.

How Does This Happen?

Modern lifestyles and habits can negatively influence jaw growth, leading to:

  • A narrow upper jaw and a high palate, reducing nasal airflow.
  • A lower jaw that’s pushed back, causing the tongue to obstruct the airway.

These structural issues may not always cause obvious symptoms but can lead to inefficient breathing. Signs to look out for include:

  • Teeth grinding.
  • Sleeping with your neck stretched out.
  • Teeth indentations on your tongue.
  • Subtle decreases in nocturnal oxygen levels (as measured by wearables).

In more severe cases, these issues can result in snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea, with significant health consequences like:

  • High blood pressure and cholesterol.
  • Metabolic syndrome.
  • Neurological degenerative diseases.
  • Erectile dysfunction.

Benefits of Airway Treatment

Improving airway health can transform your overall well-being:

  • Improved Cellular Health: Better oxygenation for all body systems.
  • Enhanced Jaw Alignment: Optimal growth and positioning.
  • Improved Nasal Airflow: Easier, more efficient breathing.
  • Higher Sleep Quality: Deeper, restorative rest.
  • Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: Reduced risk of chronic illnesses.
  • Increased Energy Levels: Feel refreshed and revitalized.
  • Better Neurological and Metabolic Health: Enhanced brain and body function.
  • Stronger Immune System: Better resilience against illnesses.

How Can Dental Aligners Improve Your Breathing?

Many breathing disorders are linked to dental issues. Aligning and widening your dental arches can significantly improve nasal airflow and optimize tongue positioning, enhancing overall breathing efficiency.

 

How Does It Work?
The process begins with a comprehensive digital evaluation, including:


• 3D X-rays: Provides a detailed view of your jaws, head, and airway.
• Photos: Captures the natural structure of your face and smile.
• 3D Intra-Oral Scan: Creates a precise digital model of your teeth and dental arches.


Using these digital records, Dr. Sheryl creates a full picture of your oral structure. Precise measurements and advanced digital planning determine the extent to which your jaws need to be widened or aligned, ensuring an improved airway and better overall function.

The Treatment Plan

Your treatment plan is entirely personalized to meet your unique needs and goals.

  • Mild Widening & Alignment:
    If only minor adjustments are needed, this can often be achieved with dental aligners. The number of aligners depends on the amount of movement required.
  • Moderate Orthodontics:
    Moderate orthodontic treatment includes a full digital setup for your case and may include other auxiliary treatments to aid the speed or outcome of the treatment.  This option can be done for more narrow and crowded cases or where one would like to increase space in the arches for other conditions eg sleep apnoea or TMJ issues.  Auxiliary treatments may include expansion screws or gum surgery or bone grafting procedures to optimise the end result.
  • Advanced Widening:
    For cases requiring more significant widening, a combination of aligners and minor surgical procedures may be recommended. These advanced techniques safely expand your dental arches and deliver outstanding results. These surgical options can include MARPE, SARPE and even SFOT as necessary.
  • Surgical Advancement Cases:
    We work together with experts to coordinate your jaw
    advancement surgery for your airway health in coordination with your aligner therapy.

While the idea of surgery can feel intimidating, the benefits are life-changing. Patients often report a noticeable and immediate improvement in their ability to breathe, along with the confidence of a beautifully aligned smile.

Pricing on Aligners
Mild = R 80 000
Moderate = R110 000 – R130 000
Advanced = R150 000 (surgical coordination included, any surgical costs excluded)

View Case Studies

Oxygen Monitoring Devices

The Nocturnal O2 Ring is an advanced wearable pulse oximeter that tracks your oxygen levels and heart rate while you sleep. Used by Dr Sheryl Smithies in her practice, this device helps monitor airway health, detect potential breathing obstructions, and assess the effectiveness of aligner treatments for improved airflow.

  • Identifies oxygen drops linked to airway blockages
  • Helps track sleep apnea and snoring patterns
  • Supports airway-focused aligner treatment monitoring

By understanding your oxygen levels, you gain valuable insight into your airway health, leading to better breathing, sleep, and overall wellness.

Myobrace

The Myobrace is a functional appliance designed to help growing children develop proper breathing habits and tongue posture, allowing facial bones to grow correctly. Resembling a small gum guard, it is worn for an hour during the day and overnight while sleeping. It is best introduced from around four years old, depending on the child’s acceptance. Myobrace can also be used by adults and alongside orthodontic treatment to promote proper muscle function.

Floa

Snoring can signal airway obstruction, affecting sleep and health. Dental solutions like the Flora Snoring device reposition the jaw to keep the airway open, reducing snoring and improving airflow. This leads to better rest and long-term health benefits.

Patient Testimonials

The Process

By addressing the structural causes of breathing difficulties, dental aligners can play a transformative role in improving overall health and quality of life.

Consultation and
Digital Records

Consultation and Digital Records All initial consultations are 45 minutes long, this includes the digital record taking (photos, IO Scans, CBCT, video etc) to create a digital picture of your face and mouth. A brief discussion will finish your consultation. Dr Sheryl will then work on the full treatment plan and get other collective knowledge pertaining to your case from other specialists at Enamel. Thereby affording you opinions from specialists before you have seen them.

Free Case
Discussion

1 week after your initial consultation, Dr Sheryl will now present treatment options to you for discussion. Any and all questions will be answered so as to help you reach a decision about which treatment plan works the best for you.

Cost Estimate
Finalization

This part is very thorough and all necessary cost estimates will be given to you.

Test Drive
Your Smile

You are now able to try in your new smile. We will make the digital design and use a temporary material on your teeth to show you what the final result could look like. This step can be done anywhere from Step 2 onwards. A fee is charged for the laboratory to do the design for us however, the actual clinical fee is waived.

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Cape Town Cosmetic Dentist

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