What Is Holistic Orthodontics?
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- May 23, 2025
Holistic orthodontics is an modern approach that uses the body’s natural muscles and habits to influence and develop the dental arch and alignment of the teeth. Unlike traditional orthodontics—which relies on mechanical forces from brackets, wires, or clear aligners to move teeth—holistic orthodontics aims to correct the underlying causes of misalignment, often without the use of forceful appliances.
This method is most commonly used when a patient’s habits—such as mouth breathing or improper tongue posture—have contributed to a narrow arch or a constricted airway. In these cases, it is often more effective to correct the habit and improve tongue position, allowing the arch to widen naturally, rather than relying solely on orthodontic appliances like braces or Invisalign. When treatment focuses only on moving the teeth without addressing the root cause, there is a much higher risk of relapse, as the original patterns and pressures that caused the misalignment remain unchanged. Traditional methods can also move the teeth without moving the underlying structure which can cause other issues like root resorption and gum recession.
Holistic orthodontics can be especially beneficial for children and young adults, as it may help improve breathing and airway development during critical growth periods. Some studies show that over 70% of children have breathing and sleep issues that is often mistakenly treated with medicine rather than correcting the airway. Narrow arches are commonly associated with sleep and breathing issues, and while traditional orthodontic techniques can help to some extent, holistic methods often go further by addressing the core issues. By guiding natural development and correcting oral posture, patients may experience better overall health and more stable long-term results.
It’s important to note that this type of treatment is not the best option for everyone. Holistic orthodontics often requires a high level of patient commitment. In addition to wearing custom-made appliances, patients must consistently perform exercises at home to retrain habits like tongue positioning, swallowing, and breathing patterns. The success of the treatment is heavily reliant on patient compliance and isn’t as simple as wearing the appliance for an allotted amount of time. Because of this, some patients will not see good success with these methods.
While holistic orthodontics can offer some of the healthiest and most natural results, it is not always the best option for every individual. Speak with your holistic dentist or orthodontic
provider to determine if this approach may be right for you.
Photo by Shiny Diamond:
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Dr. Cellars is dedicated to serving his patients and caring for all their individual needs. After graduating from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and working at a private practice in Lancaster CA, he has returned to Southern California and has proudly served the community since then.
