Listen to the podcast here.
A perfect smile isn’t always enough. Other considerations in the facial structure are required in order to be able to develop naturally, breathe properly and avoid sleep apnea. Let’s explore the Myobrace® treatment, a state-of-the-art technology designed to improve natural growth and function.
What is Myobrace Treatment?
Myobrace® is a preventive pre-orthodontic treatment with the goal of targeting the causes of crooked teeth so that children can naturally grow and develop naturally, hopefully without the need for braces. It is designed for children ages 3-15, and is best utilized before children have all their permanent teeth.
The treatment helps to straighten teeth, develop and align the jaws, and improve facial development. It does this by helping children breathe through their nose, rest their tongue at the top of their mouth, swallow correctly, and keep their lips closed.
The removable appliance that somewhat resembles a mouth guard or Invisalign tray, is worn for 1-2 hours a day and overnight, and children are asked to participate in Myobrace activities including breathing, tongue, swallowing, lip and cheek exercises that are performed twice a day to help them develop proper oral habits. With full compliance, excellent results can be achieved.
Related Video: Myobrace – Straight Teeth the Natural Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPQEFU8OwWc
Four Stages of Myobrace Treatment
Listen to the podcast here.
There are only four stages of treatment that are usually completed in 18 months, on average. They include:
- Habit Correction – teaching the patient to breathe through the nose and not the mouth, training the tongue to rest in a correct position, swallowing, and keeping the lips together when not speaking or eating. This enables the jaw to grow to the proper size and the teeth to come in straight.
- Arch Development – In some patients, the upper jaw requires enlargement to allow sufficient space for the teeth and tongue. The Myobrace System is used to help develop the jaw.
- Dental Alignment – When permanent teeth erupt, the Myobrace for Teens is utilized to help align teeth into their natural position. Depending upon the child’s own requirements, final treatment may involve braces, but generally for a much shorter time than without the Myobrace treatment.
- Retention – No fixed retainer is required, as is often the case with braces, to maintain good oral habits and alignment. Myobrace treatment enables more stable orthodontic results and improved overall health.
Health Benefits
“A perfect smile is not enough for function,” explains Liliana Calkins, DDS, of Airway and Sleep Group. “We receive patients that have finished orthodontic treatment with other providers who can’t breathe properly or continue to have problems with sleep apnea.”
The Myobrace pre-orthodontic treatment addresses issues related to airway dysfunction, such as sleep apnea, and breathing and jaw disorders including TMJ and teeth grinding.
Our specialists at Airway and Sleep Group are experts at treating Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs). These are disorders of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth that can affect facial skeletal growth and development, speech, TMJ, orthodontic treatment stability, facial esthetics, chewing and swallowing.
We find that many OMDs originate with the habitual patterns of oral breathing, or insufficient nasal breathing. Even the act of swallowing and speech can be effected, since it relies on the balance between the muscles of the face, mouth, tongue and throat. The entire system must work in harmony. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can also reduce the symptoms of snoring and sleep apnea by resolving airway obstruction.
If you’d like to learn more about Myobrace Treatment, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy or Sleep Apnea Treatment, please contact Airway and Sleep Group.