Straight Teeth the Natural Way: Myobrace
Are you noticing your child’s teeth are getting a little crowded? Or are you concerned about a deep bite they are developing? There are options available instead of waiting for braces.
3 out of 4 kids have crowded teeth and incorrectly developing jaws. This can be evident as early as age 3-5. Traditionally, we have waited until all permanent teeth have erupted to start orthodontics (age 12-14). Studies have shown that by starting treatment earlier, you can help your child even more. Myobrace is a pre-orthodontic treatment that can straighten your child’s teeth sooner and without braces. It’s a natural approach to straightening teeth while your child is still growing. You can get started as early as 3-15 for kids!
Why do kids develop crooked teeth?
Modern research has shown that crowded teeth, incorrect jaw development and other orthodontic problems are not caused by big teeth in small jaws or hereditary factors. Nutrition, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, reverse swallowing and thumb sucking (known as incorrect myofunctional habits) are the real causes. Allergies, asthma and an open mouth posture also contribute to incorrect jaw development. Growing up, most of us have had one or more of these myofunctional problems, which may have been the cause of incorrect dental and facial development. By correcting these habits, better facial development and straighter teeth are achieved!
Why does mouth breathing cause crooked teeth?
During mouth breathing the tongue is not resting on the roof of the mouth. It has a lower tongue posture (floor of mouth), cheek muscles narrows the upper jaw and palate. In effect, the lower jaw does not grow accordingly and stays in a more back position.
Remember the mouth is for eating and the nose is for breathing!
Can’t all these concerns be treated with Invisalign?
Orthodontics is the best way to move/align teeth. However, it does not treat the reason why children have developed the malocclusion. It does not treat oral habits. Therefore, after going through braces or Invisalign relapse can occur.
How can Myobrace help?
These appliances are designed to train the tongue to position correctly in the upper jaw, retrain the oral musculature and exert light forces to align the teeth.
Wearing a Myobrace appliance for one to two hours each day and overnight while sleeping, combined with a series of ‘myofunctional exercises’ (also known as the Trainer Activities) each day is all that is required in the treatment process. In a small number of cases, fixed braces may be required for a short time to provide optimal alignment.
The Myobrace System differs from other orthodontic forms of treatment as it is not only aimed at straightening the teeth, but is primarily directed at correcting the causes of crooked teeth and underdeveloped jaws. This works best for patients who are still growing, around the ages of six to ten. Effective treatment can be done outside of these ages, but habits become harder to correct in older patients. Compliance is very important!
Myobrace treatment goals:
- Lips together at rest
- Correct tongue position on tag
- No facial muscle activity during swallowing
- Good facial development
- No braces, retainers or extractions (when possible)
- Straight teeth
- Healthy hard-food diet
How does Myobrace work?
Myobrace is an evolution of functional appliances that includes myofunctional therapy. It allows early treatment with these appliances that addresses the causes of malocclusion while the child is still growing. It is based on myofunctional therapy exercises, but systemized and modernized so compliance and reproducibility are achieved.
Children wear their myobrace 1-2 hours during the day and while sleeping at night. Goals while wearing the myobrace are tongue on the tag, lips together and breathing through your nose.
Each month a new activity will be given to the child to master. These activities are to be done everyday for 2-5 minutes using an activities app. The activities focus on breathing exercises, tongue and correct swallowing training. All to achieve optimal development. We make the activities fun!
Unique features of the Myobrace Appliance
- Tooth channels – align the front teeth
- Tongue Tag – trains the tongue position
- Lip Bumper – trains the lower lip
- Frankel gage – Expands the arch form
During treatment, kids are to wear their myobrace 1-2 hours during the day (can be broken up) and while sleeping at night.
Each month a new activity will be given to the child to master. These activities are to be done everyday for 2-5 minutes. We make them fun and are available on an app! The myobrace treatment program is customized for each child’s needs and age. Treatment is divided into 3 phases. Oral habit elimination, expansion and alignment/retention.
Ready to get started? Call us to schedule a consultation appointment!
