Clear Aligners for Kids and Teens, Planned Around the Airway
AIRTHO clear aligners are designed to straighten teeth while creating and preserving space for the tongue and for airflow. Dr. Jeff Buxton uses them for kids, teens, and adults, often after expansion, so a straighter smile and easier breathing can work together.
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Straight teeth and an open airway can grow up together
Many aligner systems focus on moving teeth within the space a mouth already has. For a child or teen with a narrow arch, that can mean fitting teeth into less room than the tongue and airway need. AIRTHO aligners are airway-oriented: each plan is designed to straighten teeth while creating and preserving room for the tongue to rest up on the palate and for air to move freely.
That matters because tongue posture and arch width are connected to how easily kids breathe, especially at night. A wider, well-shaped arch gives the tongue a better home.
- Nearly invisible and removable for eating and brushing
- Digitally planned from 3D scans
- Designed to support tongue space and nasal breathing
- Often used after expansion to guide teeth into new space
Kids and teens who may be a good fit
Kids finishing expansion
After a palate expander creates room, aligners can guide teeth into that new space.
Teens with crowding
Crowded or overlapping teeth are often a sign of a narrow arch, and we plan for both at once.
Teens who snore or mouth-breathe
Could a narrow arch be crowding the tongue? We evaluate the airway before planning a single tray.
Teeth that shifted back
If teeth moved after earlier orthodontic care, understanding why can help us plan something more stable.
Teens who want discreet treatment
Clear, removable aligners fit into school, sports, and photos without much notice.
Kids with narrow arches
For some growing kids, aligners are one part of a Phase 1 plan that also includes expansion and myofunctional therapy.
Planning starts with the airway, then the teeth
Before we plan a single aligner, we look at the whole picture. Your child's airway consultation includes a 3D CBCT scan of the jaws and airway, a digital intraoral scan (no molds), photos, and an exam of tongue posture and breathing habits.
Dr. Buxton uses those records to decide whether aligners are the right first step or whether expansion should come first. When aligners are the right tool, the same digital scans become the blueprint for your child's AIRTHO treatment, and you'll see the plan before anything begins.
It all starts with an airway consultation
Before anyone talks treatment, we get the full picture. Your consultation with Dr. Buxton includes:
- A 3D CBCT scan of the airway, jaws, and joints
- A digital intraoral scan (no goopy molds)
- Photos and a hands-on exam of breathing, tongue, and bite
- A plain-language walkthrough of what we see and what your options are
Airway consultation: {$350 for kids and adults}
How AIRTHO treatment works for kids and teens
Airway consultation
3D imaging, digital scans, and an exam show where your child's teeth, jaws, and airway are today.
Expansion first, if needed
If the arch is narrow, a palate expander may come first to create room before aligners begin.
Your custom plan
Dr. Buxton digitally plans each stage around your child's airway and bite. You review the plan and ask questions before treatment starts.
Wear and check in
Aligners are worn day and night, about 18 hours a day, and come out only to eat and brush. Regular check-ins keep progress on track.
Retain and support
Retainers and myofunctional therapy habits help the teeth and tongue hold their new positions.
Clear aligners or traditional braces? How they compare for kids and teens
Parents ask us this all the time. Both can straighten teeth, and both have their place. Here is how they differ day to day, and why we plan with the airway in mind. We offer AIRTHO clear aligners at our Draper office; if braces would truly serve your child better, we'll tell you.
How they look
Aligners are clear and hard to notice in photos or at school. Braces use brackets and wires that are visible, though some kids like choosing the colors.
Eating and brushing
Aligners come out for meals and brushing, so there are no food restrictions and flossing stays simple. Braces stay on, so sticky and hard foods are off the menu and cleaning around brackets takes more effort.
Comfort
Aligners are smooth plastic with no wires to poke cheeks. Braces can rub at first and after adjustments. Both create some pressure while teeth are moving.
Responsibility
Aligners only work when they're worn, about 18 hours a day for AIRTHO. Braces work full time because they can't be taken out, which can suit a child who would lose or skip trays.
Visits and activities
Aligner check-ins are usually quick, and trays come out for contact sports and wind instruments. Braces need regular adjustment visits and a mouthguard for sports.
Airway planning
This is the biggest difference in our office. AIRTHO plans are designed around arch width and tongue space, not only tooth position, so a straighter smile and room to breathe can grow up together.
Teens haven't missed the window
If your child is a teen, you may worry you waited too long. You didn't. Jaw growth slows in the teen years, but there's still meaningful work we can do: widening the arch, making room for the tongue, and aligning teeth in a way that respects the airway. For some teens, a fixed expander comes first. For teens whose palate has matured, Dr. Buxton may talk with you about other expansion options.
We'll be honest about what's realistic for your teen's age and anatomy, and we won't promise more than we can deliver. The goal is a plan that fits where your teen is today. Younger siblings? Early guided growth with the Toothpillow appliance may be a fit.
Parents sometimes see themselves in their teen's story, from the crowded teeth to the snoring. If that's you, explore clear aligners for adults or adult sleep apnea treatment.
Hear it from Dr. Buxton
Short videos from Dr. Jeff Buxton. Educational only; every patient is different.
Why are the teeth crowded? The teeth are crowded because there's not enough room in the jaws for the teeth to come in. Instead of wondering why the teeth are crooked and thinking, how can we go upstream and maybe avoid these crooked teeth? We've just accepted, hey, we'll just straighten the crooked teeth out when all the baby teeth are gone.
And you're left with straight teeth, but those teeth have been put in an unstable position. That's the reason why a retainer is needed. If you don't wear the retainer, the teeth are going to try to move back into a more stable position in the bone. Think of it this way. You've got 32 chairs and you have a room and that room is your mouth and you need to fit all 32 chairs in that room.
Let's make sure that we build a big enough room for all of the teeth. And how can we build a big enough room? Well, as dental professionals, we can do expansion. As we make the room bigger, now the teeth are going to come in where they need to be.
Watch: crowded teeth and the airway
Videos from the Toothpillow patient education series. Educational only; every child is different.
Videos are from the Toothpillow brand library.
What patients and families say
Real Google reviews from our Draper office, Dr. Buxton's patients, and Toothpillow families. Individual experiences; every airway is different.
"Love this place so much! They Have helped me with my kids but also myself. AMAZING!!!"
"Dr. Buxton really cares about his patients. I couldn't be happier with the results! ... Not to mention the new office and decor are absolutely stunning. Everyone in the office is so friendly!"
"You will love working with the practioner and staff. They are knowledgeable and friendly. It has been a great experience every appointment. It’s a nice plus that the office is also a beautiful place."
Frequently asked questions
What are AIRTHO aligners?
AIRTHO aligners are airway-oriented clear aligners. Like other clear aligners, they're removable trays that move teeth gradually. The difference is in the planning: each plan is designed to straighten teeth while creating and preserving space for the tongue and for airflow.
How old does my child need to be for clear aligners?
It depends on which teeth have come in and how the jaws are growing. Younger kids often start with guided growth or expansion, and aligners come after. The airway consultation tells us when aligners make sense for your child.
Are clear aligners better than braces for my child?
Neither is better for every child. Aligners are clear, removable, and easier to keep clean, but they only work when they're worn. Braces can't be forgotten, but they come with food restrictions and more cleaning. In our office the deciding factor is the airway: AIRTHO aligners are planned around arch width and tongue space. If your child's case calls for braces, we'll say so and help you find the right provider.
Is my teen too old for airway-focused treatment?
No. Growth slows in the teen years, but teens can still benefit from arch development, more tongue space, and airway-minded alignment. We'll be clear about what's realistic for your teen's age and anatomy.
Will my child actually wear aligners?
Aligners work best when they're worn about 18 hours a day, coming out only to eat and brush. We coach kids and parents on routines that make it easier, and regular check-ins help everyone stay on track.
Can aligners help with my child's snoring?
Aligners alone aren't a treatment for sleep apnea, which is a medical diagnosis made with proper sleep testing. For some kids, a wider arch and more tongue space may support easier breathing. If your child snores, we'll evaluate the airway and help coordinate a sleep evaluation with your child's physician if it's needed.
How are AIRTHO aligners different from other clear aligners?
Many aligner systems are planned mainly around how the teeth line up. AIRTHO planning also considers arch width, tongue space, and the airway, which fits our airway-first approach for kids, teens, and adults.
Treatments that often go together
Palate Expanders
Removable and fixed expanders, including RPE and Hyrax, that widen a narrow upper jaw to make room for teeth and easier nasal breathing.
Learn more →
The Toothpillow Appliance
A soft, removable nighttime appliance designed to guide healthy jaw growth and nasal breathing, starting as young as age three.
Learn more →
Adult Clear Aligners
AIRTHO clear aligners, planned around your airway and tongue space, usually after expansion to guide your teeth into their new room.
Learn more →Schedule your child's airway consultation
Book online or call. Consultations for kids, teens, and adults at our Draper office.
14203 Minuteman Drive #101
Draper, UT 84020
Just off I-15, minutes from IKEA
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM
"Great place! They are doing it differently. Well done!"
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