Jeremy Manuele
Expansion Device Provider / Airway-Focused Orthodontist in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Comprehensive care tailored to your needs
- DMD - UNLV School of Dental Medicine, 2012
- Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics - LSU Health Sciences Center, 2014
Will palate expansion cure my sleep apnea?
Short answer: it often helps—but sleep apnea is multifactorial. Sleep apnea rarely has just one cause. While a narrow upper jaw can absolutely contribute to airway restriction, breathing issues are often influenced by multiple factors, including nasal anatomy, tongue position, jaw size and position, body posture, soft tissue collapse, BMI, and sleep habits. That’s why we don’t believe in “expand first, ask questions later.” In our practice, we use advanced 3D imaging and airway analysis to evaluate: • Upper jaw width and nasal volume • Tongue space and oral cavity size • Jaw relationships • Potential airway restriction points This allows us to narrow down where the problem is likely coming from and help guide patients through the diagnostic process—often in coordination with sleep physicians or ENT specialists—before deciding whether expansion is appropriate. For the right patient, expansion can be a powerful part of a larger treatment plan. But it’s not a universal cure, and we’re careful to match the solution to the actual problem.
Is my child too young for expansion?
In many cases, earlier is actually better—when done thoughtfully. Traditionally, orthodontists avoided early expansion because it was difficult to accurately measure jaw width, predict growth, or determine whether a discrepancy would self-correct. Today, that’s changed. With modern growth prediction tools and advanced imaging, we can now: • Accurately measure jaw size and asymmetry • Compare your child’s anatomy to age-appropriate norms • Identify true skeletal deficiencies (not just crowded teeth) • Anticipate how growth is likely to occur When a real size discrepancy exists, correcting it earlier can be simpler, more stable, and less invasive than waiting until growth is complete. That doesn’t mean every child needs expansion, but if they do, early intervention can guide growth in a healthier direction rather than trying to fix problems after they’re fully developed.
Is expansion just about making room for teeth?
No, teeth are often just the symptom. Crowded or crooked teeth are frequently the visible result of a jaw that didn’t develop to its full potential. Expansion isn’t simply about straightening teeth, it’s about optimizing the foundation those teeth sit on. A properly sized upper jaw can impact: • Facial balance and smile aesthetics • Bite function and long-term stability • Nasal breathing and tongue posture • Space for teeth to align naturally Our goal isn’t to make jaws bigger than they should be, it’s to help them reach the size they were always meant to be, based on your individual anatomy.
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States