What a Dentist Did for My Voice That No Vocal Coach Could
Andrew is a poet and a musician in NYC. His entire art lives in his voice, his breath, his presence — the ability to stand in front of an audience and open himself up completely. For years, something was holding him back. He was self-conscious about his smile. His breathing was restricted, affecting the quality and endurance of his voice. He woke up exhausted. The insecurity wasn't just cosmetic – it ran straight through his identity as an artist. When he found Dr. Lena Sapozhnikoff in Lower Manhattan, he was looking for help with his smile. What he discovered was that MARPE palatal expansion and Invisalign could take him somewhere he hadn't known was possible – a fuller expression of himself as a person and as an artist.
What he didn't know was possible
When Andrew found Dr. Lena, he was looking for cosmetic treatment to improve his smile. What he discovered was something he hadn't known to look for – that a narrow palate structural was affecting his breath, his voice, his sleep – and his confidence! A narrow palate doesn't just crowd teeth. It restricts the nasal airway, limits breath support, and compromises the quality of sleep that a performer depends on to show up fully. Treatment didn’t just change how Andrew’s smile looked, It has changed how he performs, how he feels on stage, how he breathes.
Watch to learn more about Andrew's smile transformation
A treatment built around his life as a performer
MARPE palatal expansion widened Andrew's palate, permanently opening his nasal airway, creating space for his tongue to rest properly, and freeing the breath support that his voice depends on. The field has since evolved toward MASPE, a slower and more controlled protocol, and it's the approach Dr. Lena favors for its precision and comfort throughout treatment.
Following expansion, Andrew completed Invisalign – and for a performer, the choice of Invisalign over traditional braces matters in a way that goes beyond aesthetics. The aligners are removable. Before a performance, a recording session, or a spoken word set, Andrew is able to remove them. His voice is fully open, his breath unrestricted, nothing between him and his audience. When he's done, the aligners are worn again. His treatment works around his art – not the other way around.
Book NowFollowing expansion, Andrew completed Invisalign – and for a performer, the choice of Invisalign over traditional braces matters in a way that goes beyond aesthetics. The aligners are removable. Before a performance, a recording session, or a spoken word set, Andrew is able to remove them. His voice is fully open, his breath unrestricted, nothing between him and his audience. When he's done, the aligners are worn again. His treatment works around his art – not the other way around.
After
Before
I realized that there were options, not just for making my teeth look better, but for helping me feel fuller and more present as a person and as an artist... People have noticed the increase in my confidence.
— Andrew
How Andrew’s life has changed
The people in Andrew's life have noticed his changes – to his confidence and his voice. The kind of changes that show up in how someone moves through a room, takes a breath before they speak, stands in front of a crowd. Andrew describes it as a fruitful journey – not just for his smile and not just for his airway, but for his sense of self. Dr. Lena Sapozhnikoff gave him new confidence and new breath.
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