Dr. Ela Bănică – International Leader in Functional, Myofunctional & Airway Orthodontics
Founder – Ortho Institute & Ortho FACE Foundation, Bucharest, Romania
Ortho Institute – Center of Excellence in Orthodontics, Breathing, and Posture
Ortho FACE: Foundation for Airway and Craniofacial Excellence
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About Me
I am Dr. Ela Bănică, internationally recognized orthodontist and certified Buteyko Practitioner, with more than 20 years of clinical experience in Functional, Myofunctional and Airway Orthodontics. I am the Founder of Ortho Institute, a Center of Excellence in Orthodontics, Breathing, and Posture, and the Founder of Ortho FACE Foundation, which promotes interdisciplinary education, early intervention and craniofacial excellence.
As a former Assistant Professor at the Department of Orthodontics and Dento-Facial Orthopedics, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy (11 years), I have contributed to the academic and clinical evolution of airway-focused orthodontics in Romania and internationally.
I currently lead two national reference programs:
• MSE – Maxillary Skeletal Expansion Program (Romania)
• Orthoposturodontics Program – a full-body, functional system evaluating the patient from bite and TMJ to posture, breathing and muscular balance
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My Qualifications Include:
Certified Buteyko Breathing Practitioner – Buteyko Clinic International, London
Advanced Breathing Science Master Program – 6-month intensive, Australia
Postgraduate Certificate in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy – 1-year program, California, USA
Advanced Training in Maxillary Skeletal Expansion (MSE) and Airway-Focused Orthodontics
Specialized in Airway Optimization Strategies for pediatric and adult patients
Advanced Facial Orthopedics & Growth Guidance
Certified in Digital Orthodontics – including Invisalign®, SureSmile®; training completed in Paris, Barcelona, and Dallas
Extensive experience in early interceptive and pre-orthodontic care, focusing on:
Functional oral development
Craniofacial growth
Breathing rehabilitation
Tools & Systems Used Clinically:
Myobrace® – for interceptive treatment and habit correction
Myomunchee® – for orofacial muscle development and oral tone
Froggymouth® – for neuromuscular re-education and improved nasal breathing
MSE (Maxillary Skeletal Expander) – for transverse skeletal expansion and airway improvement
TAD-supported expansion protocols for non-surgical midfacial development
Myofunctional Therapy Protocols – integrated with orthodontics and breathing therapy
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What Sets My Approach Apart
Through Orthoposturodontics, I offer a holistic, full-body diagnostic and therapeutic protocol that integrates:
✔️ Dental occlusion and jaw relationships
✔️ TMJ function
✔️ Tongue posture and breathing patterns
✔️ Cervical and spinal alignment
✔️ Musculoskeletal balance and stability
My mission is to restore harmony between structure and function, allowing children and adults to grow, breathe, sleep, and live in full physiologic balance.
“Airway is the future of orthodontics. But true healing happens when we align the bite, the body, the breath, and the brain—together.”
