Airway & TMJ · Anthem, Arizona
Airway and TMJ evaluation in Anthem
Breathing and jaw comfort are looked at as part of the orthodontic evaluation here, alongside the bite and jaw growth. Dr. Romans tells you what he sees, what it is worth investigating and who does the investigating. Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a physician, not in an orthodontic office. The consultation is free.
Why you’re here
Snoring, clenching, a jaw that clicks
Parents notice a child who snores, sleeps restlessly or breathes through their mouth. Adults notice a jaw that clicks, aches by the afternoon or gets tired chewing. None of that is a diagnosis on its own, and an orthodontic office is not where a sleep diagnosis gets made.
What Dr. Romans can do is examine the bite, the jaw joints and how the jaws are growing, then say plainly whether any of it is orthodontic, what he would watch and which clinician should look at the rest.
Read Dr. Romans’s background and training →
What is included
What an airway and TMJ evaluation covers
- Airway assessment and TMJ evaluation are part of the standard evaluation, not a separate workup you book and pay for.
- Bite and jaw assessment, including how the joints move and where the muscles are tender.
- Digital scans and imaging taken at the same visit, so nothing waits on a second appointment.
- Growth and development evaluation for kids, so timing is judged rather than guessed.
- Referral where it belongs. Dr. Romans completed a craniofacial cleft and palate fellowship at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and works alongside your physician and general dentist when a question sits outside orthodontics.
What to expect
One visit, one orthodontist, a straight answer
You describe what you or your child are noticing. Dr. Romans examines, scans, and then talks you through what he found and what he did not find. If nothing needs doing, that is the answer you get, along with an interval to check again.
Nobody is asked to decide anything that day. The same orthodontist who does the evaluation is the one who would plan and finish any treatment, so you are not repeating the story to a second person later.
Request a call back →
Meet Dr. Nicholas Romans, DMD, MSD
The orthodontist who evaluates you is the one who treats you
- Board-certified orthodontist
- DMD, MSD
- Craniofacial cleft & palate fellowship, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- More than 7 years dedicated to orthodontics, including advanced specialty training
Dr. Romans owns this practice and treats every patient in it himself. Bite, jaw and airway questions are the kind that get passed around between offices, so he would rather look at all of it in one appointment and tell you honestly which parts are his to handle.
More about Dr. Romans →No appointment made yet
Prefer us to call you?
Leave three details and someone from the Anthem office calls you back to arrange the free consultation. Anything about symptoms, history or insurance gets covered on the call, not in a form.
Rather just call? (623) 320-1222
Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 8am to 5pm. Some Thursdays as well, so it is worth calling to check.
Dr. Romans has a way of explaining things clearly and honestly. You never feel rushed, and it’s obvious he wants people to make informed decisions about their care.Bijan Shemirani · Google review
Questions
Airway & TMJ, answered plainly.
How much does an airway and TMJ evaluation cost in Anthem?
The evaluation is part of the free consultation at our Anthem office, so there is no charge to be seen and no charge to have your questions answered. If treatment is recommended, the exact figure comes out of that visit, with your insurance checked while you sit there.
Can Dr. Romans diagnose sleep apnea?
No. Sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis, made by a physician, and it usually requires a sleep study. What an orthodontist can do is notice signs that involve the bite, the jaw and the space the airway has to work with, then explain them and refer you to the right physician.
My child snores. Should I bring them in?
Snoring on its own is not a diagnosis, and it is not automatically an orthodontic problem. It is still worth mentioning at an evaluation, because Dr. Romans looks at jaw growth and bite development anyway. If the answer sits with a physician or an ear, nose and throat specialist, he will say so.
What actually happens at a TMJ evaluation?
Dr. Romans asks what you are feeling and when, then examines how your jaw joints move, how your teeth meet and where the muscles are sore. Digital scans and imaging are taken at the same visit. You leave with his read on it, in plain language, and the options if any are worth trying.
Will braces or aligners fix my jaw pain?
That is not a promise anyone should make you, and Dr. Romans will not. Jaw pain has several possible sources, and orthodontics addresses only some of them. He will tell you whether your bite looks like part of the picture, what conservative steps are reasonable first and when another clinician should look.
At what age should breathing or jaw concerns be looked at?
The first orthodontic evaluation is recommended around age 7, which is when jaw growth and the bite are far enough along to read. Adults are welcome at any age. Concerns about breathing during sleep should also go to your physician or your child’s pediatrician, whatever the orthodontic picture shows.