The SPACE Framework™ | Christensen Airway Orthodontics

“Twenty-five years ago, my wife sent me for a sleep study. I brushed off the results and ignored my obstructive sleep apnea until a heart attack forced me to pay attention.

That changed how I looked at airway orthodontics. I began studying it seriously. I saw enthusiasm. I saw theories. But I didn’t see consistent measurement.

If I was going to practice airway orthodontics, it had to be structured. It had to be based on data. Nothing could be done blindly.
What I’ve learned is that if you don’t look at the nasal airway, you’re going to miss the boat. And if you don’t measure, you don’t know what changed.”

—Dr. Bret Christensen

The SPACE Framework™ Is The Disciplined, Data-Driven Structure Behind How We Practice Airway Orthodontics.

Airway orthodontics involves growth, breathing, sleep, structure, and alignment. Those elements cannot be approached randomly. They must be addressed in order.

The SPACE Framework organizes that order. Each step builds on the one before it, so decisions are made deliberately and outcomes can be evaluated clearly.

Screen We begin by screening for airway, sleep, and growth patterns. Snoring, mouth breathing, restless sleep, early crowding, and facial development often signal structural issues. The goal is to find the root cause of problems before treatment begins.

Prioritize Function Before changing structure, we look at function. Can the patient breathe through the nose? Does the tongue rest against the palate? Are lips sealed at rest? If function is compromised, long-term stability is difficult to achieve and symptoms are likely to worsen over time.

Assess With Data We measure what matters: palatal width, nasal floor width, minimum cross-sectional airway size, total nasal volume, mandibular position, and tongue space. This data tells us definitively whether the upper and lower jaws are narrow and underdeveloped or not.

Create Space When the upper jaw is narrow or underdeveloped, we expand it to widen the palate, improve nasal airflow, create proper space for the tongue, and support more stable breathing. The goal is to produce lasting orthodontic results while preventing, reducing, or eliminating symptoms associated with sleep-related breathing disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea.

Evaluate Outcomes Throughout treatment, we take measurements to closely track progress and make adjustments as needed. Has nasal breathing improved? Has airway size increased? Are sleep patterns more stable? If the structure changed, we should see it reflected in how the patient breathes, sleeps, and functions day to day.

In The Space Framework™ Each Step Builds On The One Before It

Moving in the right order reduces guesswork. It prevents symptom-based detours. It increases the likelihood of correcting the true structural cause of breathing and sleep problems.

When we follow the sequence and measure along the way, we’re not just managing symptoms. We’re correcting the cause.

The SPACE Framework™ Is The Disciplined, Data-Driven Structure Behind How We Practice Airway Orthodontics.

In The Space Framework™ Each Step Builds On The One Before It

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