CALL: (541) 539-4578        |        VISIT: 8605 Westwood Center Dr, Suite 501-B, Tysons, VA 22182   

Breathe. Grow. Thrive.

Supporting healthy development through airway-focused and functional care.

At NOVA Pediatric Airway & Myofunctional Therapy, we help children achieve better breathing, sleep, and growth by treating the root causes of oral and airway challenges — not just the symptoms.

¡Se habla español! Dr. Island and Ariana provide care in both English and Spanish.

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Our Approach

Every child deserves to breathe easily, sleep soundly, and grow confidently. Our practice takes a comprehensive, collaborative approach that looks beyond teeth — focusing on how the jaws, airway, and facial muscles work together. By identifying underlying causes early, we help children achieve long-term health, balanced facial growth, and lasting results.

We work closely with families to create individualized care plans that support each child’s unique needs.

Our Services

  • Functional Orthodontia

    Early treatment for better breathing, sleep, and growth. Our airway-centered care goes beyond straightening teeth — it supports healthy jaw development and airway function. Through gentle, guided growth, we help children breathe more efficiently, sleep more soundly, and avoid future complications.

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  • Sleep Disordered Breathing

    Understanding snoring, mouth breathing, and sleep issues in kids. When a child struggles to breathe properly at night, it can affect behavior, learning, and overall well-being. We identify the root causes — from narrow airways to underdeveloped jaws — and offer solutions that promote restful sleep and healthy development.

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  • Tongue Tie

    How restricted tongue movement can affect feeding, speech, and development. Tongue ties can impact how a child eats, speaks, and breathes. With a thorough evaluation and a collaborative treatment approach, we help restore healthy tongue function and support proper oral growth and airway development.

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  • Myofunctional Therapy

    Building lifelong habits for healthy breathing, swallowing, and growth. Myofunctional therapy retrains the muscles of the face, tongue, and mouth to work in harmony — supporting proper airway development, sleep, and speech. Through fun, guided exercises, children learn healthy oral habits that last a lifetime.

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  • Comprehensive, airway-focused evaluation

  • Gentle, early intervention for long-term results

  • Collaborative care with trusted specialists

  • Myofunctional therapy that maintains results from orthodontic care and frenectomies

  • Family-centered education and support every step of the way

Why Families Choose Us

Kind Words from Our Families

  • "Forever grateful for Dr. Island and Ariana's help"

    I can't say enough good things about Dr Island and Ariana. A friend referred us to Dr Island, and on our first visit for my almost 3 year old son she noticed he had a moderate to severe posterior tongue tie that neither the pediatrician or pediatric ENT doctor had picked up on! I felt such relief to finally have an answer for my son's speech issues that had plagued us for the past year. His articulation was poor and we could only understand 1/3 of what he was saying. It had gotten to the point where his preschool teachers expressed concern and we had started speech therapy without much improvement. I felt at a loss to not really understand why my son was having such a hard time speaking clearly. Dr Island recommended a frenectomy and that we meet with Ariana, a myofascial therapist, before the procedure to ensure our son had the best possible results from the tongue tie release. Ariana was wonderful- she very patiently reviewed exercises tailored to our son's issue and expressed genuine concern. Ariana went above and beyond- she checked in on us and gave us modified tips on follow up which was so helpful. She was so invested in having the best possible outcome for us! The day of the frenectomy, I was nervous but Dr Island was very reassuring and the procedure was done quickly- and our son wasn't even fussy afterwards! It was remarkable. It's been three months, and we've been working on his speech and there has been marked improvement in so many of his consonants. I am forever grateful for Dr Island and Ariana's help. They are everything a parent would want for their child - attentive, kind, and experienced/knowledgeable. We will be patients of this practice until our kids age out!

    - Aysha F., Patient Parent, 2025

  • "She’s back to being her happy, energetic self"

    Last year, our daughter Elena had her tonsils and adenoids removed. For several years —especially during the winter months when the air was dry from heating, or whenever she had a cold or was congested—Elena struggled to breathe properly at night. This affected her sleep, her mood, and even her focus at school. At her first appointment with Dr. Gema, for a regular check up and cleaning. She immediately noticed the size of Elena’s tonsils. After asking a few questions, she recommended that we see a specialist and we did. It took us some time to make the decision for her to have surgery, but we’re so glad we did. Since the procedure, Elena’s sleep quality has improved dramatically. She’s back to being her happy, energetic self—excited to go to school and eager to learn. Even her teacher, commented on how much more engaged she is in class. The anxiety and other issues we had seen before have completely disappeared. We hadn’t realized just how much her difficulty breathing at night was affecting her life, and we are forever grateful to Dr. Gema Island for her care and insight.

    -Patient Parent, 2025

Not sure where to begin?

If you have questions about your child’s breathing, sleep, oral function, or development, we are here to help. Share a few details with our team, and we will guide you through the next steps with care and intention.

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