Modern dental research has shown that common orthodontic problems like crowded teeth or incorrect jaw development are not caused by hereditary factors. The real culprits are often incorrect myofunctional habits, such as mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, reverse swallowing or thumb sucking. Plus, allergies, asthma and open mouth posture can compound these issues, and with the tongue and lips functioning incorrectly, crowded teeth and underdeveloped jaws are often the result.

Because crowded teeth and misaligned jaws can cause other dental problems, they’re important to fix. Braces are the most common treatment for crowded teeth and jaw alignment issues, but the Myobrace^® System addresses these issues by correcting the habits that cause them in the first place.

Myobrace^® treatment involves a series of intra-oral appliances that are worn for an hour each day and overnight. These appliances address incorrect habits that cause jaw misalignment and crowded teeth. There are typically four stages to Myobrace^® treatment: habit correction, arch development, dental alignment and retention.

The first stage, habit correction, teaches the child to breathe through the nose instead of the mouth, rest the tongue in the correct position, swallow the right way and keep the lips together when not eating or talking. Correcting these oral habits helps ensure that children have the best possible chance of proper jaw growth, and as a result, straighter teeth.

Additionally, children over 7 years of age with underdeveloped jaws may need arch development to widen the upper jaw to allow sufficient space for the teeth and tongue. If necessary, your dentist will recommend supplementary appliances that can be used in combination with the Myobrace^® System.

When the last of the permanent teeth are growing in, Myobrace^® for Teens aligns the teeth into their proper position. Although final alignment may still require treatment with braces, patients using the Myobrace^® System often require braces for a much shorter time period than other patients.

The final retention stage aims to ensure that the patient maintains good oral habits, which can often prevent the need to wear a permanent retainer.

Unlike braces, treatment with the Myobrace^® System does not require patients to wait until all of their permanent teeth have grown in. Treatment can begin as early as 3 years of age, up to about age 15.

Treatment can begin as soon as poor myofunctional habits are recognized, but older children often require extra effort for success because they’ve had more time for incorrect habits and wrong growth patterns to become established. Talk to us today about whether the Myobrace^® System can help your child’s oral development!