Interceptive Orthodontics

Interceptive Orthodontics - Myobrace Therapy in Highland, IN

Dentistry for Children is pleased to offer Myobrace therapy to children in Highland, IN, and the surrounding communities. The preventive pre-orthodontic treatment focuses on correcting the underlying causes of misaligned teeth, often without the need for extractions or the use of traditional braces. Our goal is to intercept problems before they ever appear to get your child on track to natural growth and development. We are dedicated to ensuring our young patients enjoy healthy smiles for life.

What Are the Causes of Misaligned Teeth?

The majority of children in this day and age have crooked teeth and poor jaw development, which are often attributed to genetics. However, research shows that the real cause of misaligned teeth lies in mouth breathing, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and reverse swallowing, all of which are known as incorrect myofunctional habits.

Poor jaw development limits the space available for the erupting teeth to come in their ideal positions, leading to crooked teeth. Traditional orthodontic treatments typically begin around age 12. However, braces and selective tooth extractions do not address the underlying cause of misaligned teeth.

What Are the Limitations of Traditional Orthodontic Treatments?

Here is a look at some of the limitations of traditional orthodontic treatment with braces:

Braces do not treat the underlying causes of misalignment. Rather than focusing on poor jaw development, traditional orthodontic treatments force the teeth to move into alignment. The lack of space to accommodate the incoming teeth often necessitates extracting healthy adult teeth, which may lead to changes in a child's appearance.
Relapse after treatment is far too common. Unfortunately, the long-term stability of teeth that have undergone traditional orthodontic treatment is problematic, with an incredibly high rate of relapse. Teeth crowding and misalignment usually return unless a retaining wire is permanently glued to the teeth or the patient is dedicated to wearing retainers. That is because braces treat the symptoms of crooked teeth while the underlying causes of the problem remain.
Braces can damage the tooth enamel. Traditional metal braces are typically bonded to the tooth surfaces in a chemical bonding process that involves etching the tooth enamel surfaces for better adhesion. Cleaning around the braces is sometimes challenging, leading to enamel decay, white spots, or surface stains. Poor oral hygiene can result in further oral health problems, including tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and discoloration.

The constant force of braces can damage the tooth roots. Studies show that nearly 100 percent of patients treated with braces suffer from tooth root damage, meaning parts of the roots are dissolved. In some severe cases, tooth root resorption and damage can lead to tooth loss over time.

Myobrace Therapy - An Overview

Myobrace therapy is a preventive pre-orthodontic treatment that addresses the underlying causes of tooth misalignment, often without needing any tooth extractions or braces. Treatment usually involves the use of a series of removable oral appliances, which are worn during sleep and 1-2 hours during the day.

How Does Myobrace Therapy Work?

Myobrace therapy addresses poor myofunctional habits by reteaching how to breathe through the nose and rest the tongue on the roof of the mouth. It encourages the proper development of the jaws, so your child has sufficient room for the adult teeth, allowing them to come in the correct positions without the need for braces.

Postponing orthodontic treatment until all the permanent teeth have erupted can permanently damage your child's oral health and development. Poor oral or myofunctional habits can be identified before the permanent teeth arrive, meaning the underlying causes of crooked teeth can be addressed as early as age three before the problem ever develops.

What Happens During Treatment?

Your child will wear an intra-oral appliance for one hour each day as well as during sleep. The Myobrace appliance will help correct poor oral habits while expanding the arch form and exerting light force to align the teeth and jaws. The type of appliance used will depend on your child's unique needs and specific orthodontic concerns.

Myobrace therapy includes a patient education program known as "Myobrace Activities" to further address poor myofunctional habits that interfere with proper dental and jaw development. These activities consist of breathing, tongue, swallowing, lip, and cheek exercises that your child will perform twice a day. The older a child is before starting treatment, the more challenging it is to correct poor habits. Treatment is most effective before poor habits are ingrained.

What Are the Stages of Myobrace Treatment?

Myobrace therapy involves four stages: Habit correction, arch development, dental alignment, and retention.

Habit Correction: During this stage, your child will learn to breathe through the nose instead of the mouth. We will also train the tongue to rest in the correct position and teach your child to swallow correctly and keep their lips closed when not speaking or eating. Correcting poor oral habits will help your child's jaws grow and develop the way they should, ensuring there is enough space for the teeth to come in straight naturally. That often eliminates the need for future orthodontic treatment.
Arch Development: Along with correcting poor oral habits, your child may need an oral appliance for additional arch development to widen the upper jaw and make the required space for the tongue and teeth.
Dental Alignment: While your child's permanent teeth are coming in, a Myobrace appliance will guide them to their natural position. Myobrace appliances can eliminate the need for braces when they are used correctly and worn as per instructions. If, however, orthodontic treatment is required, it is typically for a much shorter period of time and can be combined with a Myobrace appliance for optimal results.
Retention: Retention is the final stage of Myobrace therapy. It is designed to ensure your child maintains the good oral habits developed throughout treatment, often preventing the need to wear permanent retainers for an extended period of time. Myobrace therapy allows for more stable results and improved oral and overall health.

What Are Variations in Myobrace Appliances?

We are pleased to offer the following Myobrace appliances:

Infant Trainer for Ages 2-5: This appliance aims to support proper development during the teething stage when the child has an innate impulse to chew. The infant Trainer encourages nose breathing and trains the child to swallow and position the tongue correctly. Myobrace therapy during this time promotes natural growth and development.
Myobrace for Juniors for Ages 3-5: The three-stage appliance system is designed to correct poor oral habits while simultaneously treating upper and lower jaw development problems. It is most effective when a child has primary teeth as early as three years of age.
Myobrace for Kids Aged 5-10: The three-stage appliance system is designed to correct poor oral habits while simultaneously treating upper and lower jaw development problems. It is most effective after the permanent front teeth have come in and before all the permanent teeth have erupted.
Myobrace for Teens for Ages 10-15: This four-stage appliance system is designed for habit correction, arch development, and tooth alignment. Myobrace for teens is most effective when a child's permanent teeth have come in and is designed to guide the erupting teeth into their optimal, natural positions.

What Are the Benefits of Myobrace Therapy?

The Myobrace system addresses the underlying causes of crooked teeth by doing the following:

Encourages breathing through the nose
Corrects the tongue resting position
Improves swallowing function
Keeps the lips together
Corrects poor oral habits, like thumb sucking, tongue thrust, etc.
Ensures healthy, natural facial development
Promotes natural jaw development
Aligns the jaws, preventing problems like TMJ dysfunction and teeth grinding (bruxism) down the road
Ensures that the teeth come in straight and properly aligned
Straightens crooked teeth
Improves eating habits
Lowers the risk for future obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Enhances overall health

Is Myobrace Therapy Right for Your Child?

The best way to determine whether your child is a candidate for Myobrace therapy is to schedule a consultation with your trusted team at Dentistry for Children. Dr. Halum will evaluate your child's teeth and help you determine whether Myobrace therapy is the best solution to set the stage for long-term oral health. Keep in mind that the earlier poor oral habits are corrected, the more successful the treatment.

How Long Does Myobrace Therapy Take?

The length and success of Myobrace therapy rely heavily on patient compliance. Make sure your child wears the oral appliances during sleep and for 1-2 hours during the day. Encourage your little one to follow the fun and easy myofunctional training exercises. Treatment time may vary from patient to patient but generally ranges between 9-24 months.

Is Myobrace Therapy Painful?

Unlike traditional braces, Myobrace oral appliances do not place pressure on the teeth, so treatment comes with minimal discomfort. However, your little one may feel slight sensitivity during the first few days, which should soon subside.

Myobrace Therapy Near Me in Highland, IN

If you would like to learn more about Myobrace therapy, contact Dentistry for Children to schedule a consultation. Dr. Halum and his team are happy to answer your questions and address your concerns. You can count on our team for cutting-edge care for long-term healthy smiles.

We invite you to call us at 219-924-5437 to schedule an appointment to get your child's smile and oral health on track!