About us
We developed this approach because conventional dentistry sometimes does not go far enough.
Growth and Airway exists to treat the whole picture: structure, breathing, and function together, from the start.
For years, we have seen patients have conventional orthodontic treatment which leaves them with straighter teeth but with issues that have not been addressed.
Children who still mouth-breathed. Adults who still clenched at night. Families who had been told everything looked fine on paper, yet nothing felt fine in practice.
The gap was obvious. Conventional dentistry has long focused on the outcome you can see in a photograph: aligned teeth, a symmetrical smile. What it has rarely asked is why the teeth were misaligned in the first place, or what happens to breathing, sleep, and jaw function when those underlying causes go unaddressed.
Growth and Airway has evolved over many years of clinical practice to answer those questions. We designed this approach around a single conviction: the face, the airway, and the bite develop together, and they need to be treated together. Pulling one thread without understanding the whole fabric can produce results that relapse, compensate, or potentially create new problems downstream.
That gap in conventional care is exactly the space we work in. Every patient who walks through our door receives an assessment that connects their structure to their function, and their function to their health.
“The face is not just cosmetic.”
Our approach
The jaw, the palate, the airway, and the tongue all develop as an interconnected system, and when one part is compromised, the rest compensates.
We work within a developmental framework that treats structure, airway, and function as a single clinical picture. A narrow palate can restrict nasal airflow. Restricted nasal airflow is a driver for mouth breathing. Mouth breathing can alter the muscle patterns that shape the growing face. Each of these factors feeds the next.
Our clinical approach uses light, biological forces rather than heavy mechanical ones. We assess tongue function, tethered oral tissues, breathing patterns, and jaw position as standard, not as afterthoughts. Where appropriate, we coordinate care with myofunctional therapists, ENTs, osteopaths, and other specialists, because no single discipline holds every answer.
The result is treatment that addresses why, not only what.
Dr Biju Krishnan
Founder
Dr Biju Krishnan founded Growth and Airway after training extensively in airway-focused orthodontics, craniofacial development, and dental sleep medicine. His clinical background spans conventional orthodontic training and advanced postgraduate study in airway orthodontics, ALF therapy, myofunctional integration, and tongue tie assessment and management.
Dr Krishnan holds memberships with leading professional bodies in airway dentistry and sleep medicine and has trained with internationally recognised clinicians in functional orthodontics and craniofacial growth. He built Growth and Airway as a practice structured from day one for collaborative, multidisciplinary care.
Additional team members and associate clinicians will be introduced here as the practice grows.
From a clinic into an Institute
Growth and Airway is developing into a broader Institute, with education, clinical training, and professional development programs for dentists who want to practise differently.
If you are a clinician looking to expand into airway-focused and functional orthodontics, we want to hear from you.
Get in touchQuestions we are often asked
A few of the ones we hear most. The full list answers more across every topic.
What makes Growth and Airway different from a standard orthodontic or dental practice?+
Most dental and orthodontic practices focus on the position of teeth. At Growth and Airway, the question we ask first is: what caused the teeth to develop this way? Jaw structure, breathing patterns, tongue function, and posture are all connected. Addressing those underlying factors can produce more stable, lasting outcomes than tooth alignment alone.
Is this a purely dental practice?+
The work we do sits at the intersection of dental structure, breathing function, sleep health, and posture. Depending on your situation, care can involve orthodontic appliances, myofunctional therapy, soft tissue assessment, and co-ordination with other health professionals such as ENTs, osteopaths, or sleep medicine clinicians.
Do you see both adults and children?+
Yes. Growth and Airway serves both. Adults with jaw pain, sleep disruption, bruxism, and breathing difficulties make up a significant part of our practice, alongside children presenting with developmental concerns.
Do I need a referral to book an appointment?+
No referral is needed. You can contact us directly to arrange an initial assessment for yourself or your child.
Breathe, grow, and function at full capacity.
Book a consultation today and take the first step towards helping your child or yourself breathe more easily, grow with confidence, and unlock the potential that supports lifelong wellbeing.