Braces may do more than straighten teeth: study looks at airway effects

This study looked at whether orthodontic expanders (special braces that widen the upper jaw) can change the size of a child's airway and the position of a small bone in the neck called the hyoid bone. Researchers compared 55 children who got treatment with 24 who did not. They found that treatment increased some airway measurements and changed the shape of the palate, but more research is needed to know if this helps breathing or health in the long run.