Many parents ask us when the right time is to start thinking about orthodontic treatment for their children. At Arlington Smile Center, LLC we start our evaluation of your children’s dental alignment at age 3 and monitor it closely every 6 months.
We find that many patients already have developed a malocclusion by age 3 and can tremendously benefit from an early interceptive orthodontic treatment using myofunctiuonal oral appliances, like Myobrace. If we can get the children into interceptive treatment while their jaws are still developing ideally before the age of 6, we know the child is most likely not to have relapse of their interceptive orthodontic treatment since we created the room for the permanent teeth to find a home in the right position. Although, The American Association of Orthodontists, generally recommends to start orthodontics at the age of 7, at Arlington Smile Center, LLC we feel the sooner that we get a head start in correcting any oral habits that are creating his or her malocclusion the sooner we can avoid orthodontic treatment all together. We also know the earlier we start interceptive orthodontics gives us the best chance at permanent results that do not require retention of permanent teeth.
Parents often ask us at Arlington Smile Center, is there enough space for the new teeth coming in? or we hear often is there anything I can do to prevent needing braces? The answer is YES.
MYOBRACE therapy is based on correcting the poor oral habits and patterns that is associated with poor jaw development and incorrect positioning of teeth.
Why consider this alternative approach?
In this video below, orthodontist Dr Barry Raphael offers a summary of the rationale for this approach.
Braces and now Invisalign are still recognised as the most efficient way to move teeth. However, when the poor habits that contribute to poor jaw development and crooked teeth are not addressed, the teeth have a natural tendency to move back into their original positions. This explains why many adults who have had braces in the past have a relapse of results once they stop wearing their retainers. Even, adults who always wore their retainers still show relapse.
In addition, it is quite common for treatment with braces or invisalign to be delayed until all the permanent teeth are present, usually around the age of 11-14 years. At this time 90% of jaw growth has been completed, and the window to intervene with poor habits to change a child’s trajectory of growth has been missed. On some occasions, extractions of teeth may be recommended to alleviate crowding and allow alignment of teeth.
Growing evidence links poor jaw development (narrow palates and recessed lower jaws) to poorer airways and the development of snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. Based on the increased health risks associated with these problems, it can be a very rational option to optimise jaw development much earlier in life.
Improving dental and facial development …
… of growing children from ages 3 to 15 years
WHAT THE MYOBRACE DOES:
Corrects poor oral habits
Develops & aligns the jaws
Straightens the teeth
Optimises facial development
Improves overall health
promotes healthy eating habits
HOW DOES IT DO THIS?
BY HELPING THE CHILD:
Breathe through the nose
Correct tongue resting position
Swallow correctly
Keep the lips together
For the Myobrace Treatment to work it must be used EVERY DAY for 1-2 hours plus overnight while sleeping.
What causes crooked teeth?
Children are born with the potential to develop jaws that can accommodate all 32 teeth. (The exception would be those children born with a congenital syndrome or genetic disorder).
We now know that the way the tongue rests and moves has a powerful influence on the development of the upper jaw.
This is affected by a child’s oral habits and muscle functions, and whether they have a correct or incorrect breathing pathway. This will in turn effect how their genes and jaw development are expressed.
This video below illustrates the influence of the oral and facial muscles.
Listen to this dramatic video below. You will realize it is up to us parents to help guide our children to the longest healthy life possible. The problem is that not everyone has received the memo about how important it is to open the airway and avoid mouth breathing all together. Please help spread the word.
