Myobrace (Ages 3-5)
Children at 2 to 5 years of age are growing and developing rapidly; and it is at this age when they begin to show signs of misaligned bite or teeth (malocclusion). Often, malocclusion occurs due to poor habits such as mouth-breathing or tongue-thrusting (where the tongue pushes against the front teeth).
The positioning of the teeth and the wideness of the jaw arch depends on the positioning and the strength of the lips and the tongue. Deviations of the strength and habits of these two can affect the positioning of the teeth and the jaws. At resting state, the tongue normally sits on the roof of the mouth. When a child breathes through the mouth, for example, the tongue drops down. As a result, the upper jaws become narrow, causing the crowding of teeth.
Alternately, the positioning of the child’s teeth can be affected with an over-active tongue which constantly pushes against the front teeth or with a strong lip which purses and pushes the teeth inwardly. As the child develops further, the jaws begin to lose its plasticity and will harden. At this point, complex orthodontics may be required to correct such malocclusions. When caught early, these habits may be corrected by Myobrace to train the lips and tongue as the jaws are still developing and around the time when permanent teeth come through.
The goals of Myobrace are to correct poor oral habits by:
● keeping the lips together and relaxed
● training the patient to breathe through the nose so the correct bite of the upper and lower jaw can develop
● preventing lip activity when swallowing so the front teeth can develop correctly
● improving dental alignment and facial development
Early treatment could prevent the need for braces. The Myobrace appliance must be used overnight, as well as an additional 1 to 2 hours during the day for a successful outcome.
The positioning of the teeth and the wideness of the jaw arch depends on the positioning and the strength of the lips and the tongue. Deviations of the strength and habits of these two can affect the positioning of the teeth and the jaws. At resting state, the tongue normally sits on the roof of the mouth. When a child breathes through the mouth, for example, the tongue drops down. As a result, the upper jaws become narrow, causing the crowding of teeth.
Alternately, the positioning of the child’s teeth can be affected with an over-active tongue which constantly pushes against the front teeth or with a strong lip which purses and pushes the teeth inwardly. As the child develops further, the jaws begin to lose its plasticity and will harden. At this point, complex orthodontics may be required to correct such malocclusions. When caught early, these habits may be corrected by Myobrace to train the lips and tongue as the jaws are still developing and around the time when permanent teeth come through.
The goals of Myobrace are to correct poor oral habits by:
● keeping the lips together and relaxed
● training the patient to breathe through the nose so the correct bite of the upper and lower jaw can develop
● preventing lip activity when swallowing so the front teeth can develop correctly
● improving dental alignment and facial development
Early treatment could prevent the need for braces. The Myobrace appliance must be used overnight, as well as an additional 1 to 2 hours during the day for a successful outcome.