When a child snores, breathes through their mouth and has crowded teeth, a narrow upper jaw is often part of the story. Dr. Allison Hamada checks for it.
They fall asleep in the back seat before you’re out of town, mouth wide open. They snore most of the night, then fight you on getting up for school. At the last cleaning, the dentist mentioned crowding, and nobody put the pieces together.
Dr. Allison Hamada is an airway-focused orthodontist who has treated children and adults since 2004. Thibodaux families see her at our Luling office, about 50 minutes away by LA-308 and US-90.
Serving Thibodaux and Lafourche Parish at our Luling office. LA-308 to US-90 · about 50 minutes from Thibodaux
Dr. Allison HamadaYour orthodontist. From the first visit.
Reviewed by Dr. Allison Hamada, Orthodontist. LSU School of Dentistry, orthodontic residency at Columbia University, practicing since 2004.
What does an airway orthodontist look for?
An airway orthodontist looks at how the jaws are growing and how that growth affects breathing, sleep and the bite. Along with the teeth, Dr. Hamada checks:
How wide the upper jaw is. It’s also the floor of the nose.
Where the tongue rests, and whether your child breathes through their nose at rest.
How the upper and lower jaws line up as they grow.
When the upper jaw is narrow, there’s less room for the tongue, the nasal airway and the adult teeth coming in. That’s why snoring, mouth breathing and crowding so often travel together.
She doesn’t diagnose sleep apnea. A physician or sleep specialist does that. Her part is finding the jaw and bite problems that can play a role, and treating the ones orthodontics can help.
A checklist can’t diagnose anything. An exam can. If you notice pauses in breathing, gasping or choking during sleep, call your pediatrician or doctor right away. Trouble breathing while awake needs urgent medical care.
Airway problems don’t look the same at 6 as they do at 16. Here’s what parents tend to notice at each stage, and what Dr. Hamada may suggest after an exam.
Age
What parents often notice
What she may suggest
5 to 7
Snoring, mouth breathing, a crossbite, baby teeth with no spaces between them
An airway and jaw growth check, then monitoring or early treatment if it’s needed
8 to 11
Crowding as adult teeth come in, a narrow upper jaw, mouth breathing that hasn’t gone away
A palate expander or Phase 1 treatment while the jaw is still growing
12 to 17
Crowding, a bite that looks off, snoring that’s still there
Braces or Invisalign, with expansion options that depend on how much growth is left
Adults
Snoring, clenching or jaw pain, crowding that came back after braces
MARPE expansion where it fits, braces or Invisalign, and a sleep evaluation with a physician when needed
Ages are a rough guide. Every child grows on their own schedule.
Why timing matters with a growing jaw
Some kids do outgrow snoring. When the cause is a narrow upper jaw, though, waiting can use up the years when that jaw is easiest to widen.
The upper jaw responds best to expansion while it’s still growing, and that window starts to close in the pre-teen years.
Mouth breathing and jaw growth also feed each other. A child who breathes through their mouth often rests the tongue low instead of against the roof of the mouth. The tongue helps shape the upper jaw as it grows, so the jaw can end up narrow, which leaves even less room to breathe through the nose.
Dr. Hamada learned this at home first. Her daughter, Sophia, struggled with snoring, restless sleep and trouble focusing. Dr. Hamada recognized the signs of an airway problem that traditional orthodontics wouldn’t address, and it changed how she treats every patient.
Why waiting for every adult tooth can miss the window
Waiting until all the permanent teeth are in can mean missing an important window for growth and development.
Every plan starts with a full exam and 3D imaging, so Dr. Hamada can see the jaws and airway, not just the teeth. Then she matches the treatment to the cause. An expander is for a narrow upper jaw, not for every child who breathes through their mouth.
Children
Palate expander
A palate expander widens a narrow upper jaw while the bones are still growing. That makes room for adult teeth and adds room to the floor of the nose.
Growing kids
Phase 1 orthodontics
Phase 1 treatment guides jaw growth before all the adult teeth are in. It can fix a crossbite early and often makes later treatment shorter and simpler.
Kids and adults
Myofunctional therapy
Myofunctional therapy uses exercises for the muscles used to swallow and breathe, so the tongue rests where it should and nasal breathing is easier to keep up.
Expansion for teens and adults (MARPE)
Once the upper jaw has finished growing, a regular expander can’t widen it. MARPE uses small temporary anchors in the roof of the mouth to widen the jaw without surgery, and Dr. Hamada places them in our office. It isn’t right for every adult, and she’ll tell you if it isn’t right for you. See our page on palatal expansion for adults.
Team care
Working with your pediatrician, ENT and other specialists
Tonsils, adenoids and allergies can cause snoring and mouth breathing too. When the cause is outside orthodontics, Dr. Hamada works with ENT specialists, sleep specialists and myofunctional therapists, so the whole problem gets treated.
Early intervention starts with a closer look
A young patient gets a 3D scan, and the team explains why early intervention gives kids room to grow and thrive.
When the jaw was part of the problem, parents often notice the change at night first. The snoring settles down, the mouth stays closed, and school mornings get easier. Later it shows up in the mirror, with room for adult teeth to come in straight.
“Amazing staff. Amazing experience. Highly recommend! Very insightful and helpful in improving our daughter’s airway … The team was able to connect latching and feeding complications during her first months (she is currently 10 years old).”
“It’s hard for moms to take time for themselves, their smiles, or even reviews 🙂 but this is worth sharing! Dr. Hamada is so well read, researched, and skilled. She and her team genuinely care for each of their patients. I’m so happy with my own experience at Hamada Orthodontics that it’s my only consideration for my kids, and I think that speaks volumes!”
Little girl to all grown up: a long-time patient at our Famous wall.
Every child is different, and Dr. Hamada will tell you what she expects for yours before anything starts.
Getting to our Luling office from Thibodaux and the rest of Lafourche
We don’t have an office in Lafourche Parish. Luling is our closest office to Thibodaux, at 118 Lakewood Dr just off Highway 90. For most families, it’s one free visit to find out whether there’s an airway problem worth treating.
Starting from
Office
Drive
Route
Thibodaux
Luling
About 50 minutes (37 miles)
LA-308 South to US-90 East
Thibodaux
Destrehan
About 55 minutes (46 miles)
LA-308 South to US-90 East
Lockport
Luling
About 35 minutes (27 miles)
US-90 East
Larose
Luling
About 50 minutes (41 miles)
LA-1 North to US-90 East
Drive times are typical and change with traffic.
A few tips for the drive from Lafourche:
If you live on the north side of Thibodaux or out toward Chackbay, LA-20 East to LA-3127 is another way in, only a few minutes longer.
Raceland sits on US-90, so families there are already on the main route to Luling.
From fall into the new year, cane harvest puts trucks on the roads along Bayou Lafourche. Give yourself a few extra minutes for a morning visit.
Tell our team you’re coming from Thibodaux when you call, so they can suggest times that work with the drive.
Our Luling, Destrehan and Metairie offices are open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM. Before treatment starts, ask for the expected visit schedule so you know how often you’ll make the trip.
Dr. Hamada completed her dental training at the LSU School of Dentistry and her orthodontic residency at Columbia University. She has practiced since 2004 and personally leads your care at every visit.
She has advanced training in airway-focused treatment, palatal expansion including RPE and MARPE, and collaborative care with myofunctional therapists and ENT specialists. She also founded The Airway Exchange Group, a peer-to-peer study club where local dental and medical providers work together on airway care.
Airway orthodontist in Thibodaux: what parents ask
Is there an airway orthodontist in Thibodaux?
Hamada Orthodontics doesn’t have an office in Thibodaux. Thibodaux families see Dr. Hamada at our Luling office, about 50 minutes away by LA-308 and US-90. Our Destrehan office is just under an hour away, and consultations are free at both.
Our dentist said our child’s teeth are crowded. Is that an airway problem?
Not always. Crowding has more than one cause. When it shows up along with snoring or mouth breathing, a narrow upper jaw is worth checking, and that’s exactly what Dr. Hamada looks at.
How young can my child be checked?
Dr. Hamada sees children as young as 5 or 6 to check for early airway and jaw growth problems. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7 for every child, and sooner if you notice nightly snoring or mouth breathing.
Can Dr. Hamada tell us if our child has sleep apnea?
No. Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a physician or sleep specialist, usually with a sleep study. Dr. Hamada finds the jaw and bite problems that can contribute to poor breathing, and she’ll tell you when a sleep evaluation makes sense.
Will Dr. Hamada work with our pediatrician or ENT?
Yes. You don’t have to change doctors. If your dentist, pediatrician or ENT sent you, we’re glad to keep them in the loop, and when part of the problem is outside orthodontics, Dr. Hamada works with the right specialist.
Does mouth breathing always mean my child needs an expander?
No. Mouth breathing can come from allergies, large tonsils or adenoids, habit, or a narrow upper jaw. An expander only helps when the jaw is part of the problem, and the exam tells you whether it is.
Do you also do regular braces and Invisalign?
Yes. Dr. Hamada uses Pitts21 self-ligating metal braces, which move teeth with lighter forces, and offers clear braces and Invisalign, including Invisalign Teen. Every patient gets the same airway and jaw growth check, so nothing gets missed.
Will insurance help pay for airway orthodontic treatment?
It may. Expanders and braces are orthodontic treatment, so your orthodontic benefits may cover part of the cost, depending on your plan. We accept most major dental and orthodontic insurance plans and will check your benefits before anything starts.
How much does airway orthodontic treatment cost?
It depends on what your child needs, from monitoring to an expander to full braces, so we don’t quote a fee before the exam. The consultation is free, you’ll get the exact cost before treatment begins, and we offer flexible, low-interest payment plans with low down payments. Our braces cost guide explains how fees work in our area.
I’m an adult, or a student at Nicholls. Is it too late for me?
Not necessarily. Adults with snoring, jaw pain, or crowding that came back after braces may be candidates for MARPE expansion, braces or Invisalign. Expansion isn’t right for every adult, and the exam tells you whether it’s right for you.
We live south of Thibodaux, in Lockport, Larose or Cut Off. Which office is closest?
Luling. From Lockport it’s about 35 minutes by US-90, and from Larose about 50 minutes by LA-1 North to US-90. Families farther down the bayou take the same route with a little more time.
Get a straight answer about the snoring
You don’t have to keep guessing whether it’s allergies, a phase or something more. One free visit with an orthodontist who checks both the jaws and the airway will tell you where things stand. It’s about 50 minutes from Thibodaux by LA-308 and US-90.
