“I used to practice orthodontics the way I was taught. Pull teeth. Line them up. But once I understood the airway, I couldn’t practice that way anymore.”

— Dr. Bret Christensen

Education & Clinical Training

Dr. Christensen earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Creighton University School of Dentistry, graduating third in his class. He completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry through the U.S. Army Dental Corps and later served as Chief of Orthodontics at Ft. Bragg.

He completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Louisville, earning both his Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics and a Master’s Degree in Oral Biology. His thesis focused on treating skeletal deficiencies in children through expansion and orthopedic correction.

In 2019, he became a Diplomate of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, one of only five orthodontists in the United States to hold board certification in sleep medicine through the ASBA.

He is also a Fellow of the American Laser Study Club.

His Personal Turning Point

Dr. Bret Christensen has practiced orthodontics in North Central Idaho since 2001. 

After being diagnosed with sleep apnea and later suffering a heart attack, he began connecting the dots. Sleep-disordered breathing was not simply about snoring. It was affecting his cardiovascular health.

During recovery, he underwent palatal expansion himself and began using an oral appliance. His most recent sleep study shows zero apneas.

That experience reshaped his mission. Orthodontics became about more than alignment. It became about breathing, structure, and long-term health.

Early Intervention For His Three Year Old Granddaughter

The next turning point came when his three-year-old granddaughter began struggling with sleep.

She had night terrors. Bedwetting. She stopped breathing repeatedly during the night. Rather than waiting until adolescence, Dr. Christensen expanded her upper jaw to improve her nasal airway.

Within weeks, her sleep stabilized and her behavior improved.

That case confirmed what he had already begun to suspect: jaw structure affects breathing. Breathing affects development.

Early intervention matters. The earlier we can treat, the better.

How He Follows the Data

Dr. Christensen is a numbers-driven clinician.

Since 2013, his team has tracked measurable airway changes in hundreds of patients. Over 340 of those cases have consistent, standardized research quality before-and-after data sets.

In growing patients, eight millimeters of expansion has produced average airway increases of 42 to 46 percent. In some cases, the narrowest part of the airway nearly doubled.

In adults undergoing skeletal expansion, measured nasal volume gains commonly range from three to eight cubic centimeters. That added space reduces airflow resistance and often improves sleep stability.

He does not rely on visual impressions alone.

He measures before treatment.
He measures after treatment.
If something works, it shows up in the data.

Advanced Airway Expansion & Vivos Experience

Dr. Christensen is a Vivos Integrated Provider and has advanced training in non-surgical airway expansion protocols for adults.

Through this experience, he refined his approach to skeletal expansion using implant-supported techniques such as MARPE/MAPDO. His focus remains on widening bone rather than simply tipping teeth.

Vivos training expanded his understanding of adult airway correction without relying solely on CPAP machines or invasive surgical procedures. However, every protocol in his office is guided by objective measurement and individualized evaluation.

He integrates what works. He measures the outcomes. He adjusts based on data.

Teacher & Mentor

Beyond clinical care, Dr. Christensen lectures nationally on airway-focused orthodontics. He teaches courses on pediatric airway evaluation, tongue-tie treatment, adult skeletal expansion, and measurable outcome tracking.

He hosts mini-residencies and professional education programs for dentists and orthodontists who want a clearer, data-driven approach to airway care.

He believes knowledge should be shared.

Care Philosophy

Dr. Christensen describes himself as a functional, bio-progressive orthodontist.

He believes:

• Structure comes before alignment.
• Jaw width matters.
• Nasal breathing matters.
• Stability depends on function.

He is committed to helping children grow properly and helping adults breathe better.

Most patients come in concerned about straight teeth. He wants them to leave with stable structure that will still serve them decades later.

Family & Community

Dr. Christensen has been married to his wife, Eddieka, since 1989. Together they have six children and 14 grandchildren. Two of their children passed away.  A daughter in infancy and a son at age thirteen.  These experiences have shaped their perspective on family, health, and faith.

They are deeply rooted in Lewiston and have long supported local schools, youth programs, and community organizations throughout North Central Idaho.

Serving this region is not simply a career. It is home.

Structural Airway Care Guided By Objective Data

Dr. Bret Christensen does not approach orthodontics as cosmetic dentistry.

He approaches it as structural health.

He measures carefully.
He treats deliberately.
And he works to create results that protect breathing, function, and long-term stability.

If you are considering orthodontic care in Lewiston, Moscow, Grangeville, or anywhere in North Central Idaho, the first step is a Comprehensive Airway Evaluation. We welcome patients from throughout North Central Idaho and from across the United States, Canada, and beyond.