Early (also known as Phase-One or interceptive ) treatment typically begins around age seven. By this age, all the permanent incisors (front teeth) and the permanent first molars should have erupted and we can evaluate growth discrepancies of the jaws.
The goal of early treatment is to correct the growth of the jaw and certain bite problems and also correct the bad habits. Early treatment also helps to make room for permanent teeth to come in properly, lessening the chance of extractions and more complicated treatment options in the future.
Thumb sucking can have a detrimental affect on children’s teeth. Over time the top teeth can be pulled forward and the bottom teeth pushed back.
Tongue thrusting is the persistence of an infantile swallow pattern during late childhood. It is the motion of pushing your tongue forward, against the back of the teeth or between the top and bottom teeth, when swallowing, speaking or relaxing. This may have severe impact on the development of the permanent teeth, as well as the alignment of the jaw bones, and facial appearance. It can be caused by thumb sucking, prolonged use of dummy, narrow upper jaw, tongue tie, enlarged tonsils and allergies.
For young patients who have clear indications for early orthodontic intervention, this type of treatment presents an opportunity to:
If your child is 7 years old and shows signs of needing orthodontic care, get in touch with us. Dr Banaie will perform an initial examination and discuss with you the best steps to take towards caring for your child’s smile.
Planning now can save smiles later!
The Myobrace® System is a preventive pre-orthodontic treatment that focuses on addressing the underlying causes of crooked teeth, often without the need for braces or extraction of teeth, unlocking natural growth and development. The appliances assist in correcting poor oral habits, developing and aligning the jaws, straightening the teeth, optimising facial development and improving overall health. It helps the child to breathe through the nose, correct tongue resting position, swallow correctly and keep the lips together.
For more information about Myobrace, please click Here.
Early evaluation for the signs of poor jaw development is increasingly becoming a treatment option more dentists, orthodontists and medical practitioners are implementing in many parts of the world.
This restricted development, which can be detected at a very early age, limits the space available for erupting teeth and prevents them from erupting into their ideal natural position. Treatment can begin as soon as the poor oral habits are recognised. With good compliance, excellent results can be achieved. Waiting until all permanent teeth have come through to begin treatment with braces can, unfortunately, lead to irreversible damage affecting the teeth and the child’s overall health and development.
The Myobrace®System is a preventive pre-orthodontic treatment that addresses the underlying causes of crooked teeth, often without the need for braces or extraction of teeth, unlocking natural growth and development. The appliances assist in correcting poor oral habits, developing and aligning the jaws, straightening the teeth, optimising facial development and improving overall health. It helps the child breathe through the nose, correct tongue resting position, swallow correctly and keep the lips together. Treatment involves using a series of removable intra-oral appliances worn for 1-2 hours each day plus overnight while sleeping.
If the tongue and lips are not functioning correctly, crowded teeth and underdeveloped jaws result. These are called incorrect myofunctional habits. Habits such as mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, reverse swallowing and thumb sucking. Allergies, asthma and an open mouth posture also contribute to incorrect jaw development. Traditional orthodontic treatment for crooked teeth is often delayed until all permanent teeth have come through at around 12 years of age, and, at that point, more complex treatment plans, together with extracting healthy teeth in teenage years, are the standard practice. As a child’s face grows forward and downwards, facial muscles influence and reshape the jaws. If these muscles function correctly, the tongue is in the proper position, in the roof of the mouth when we are not talking and swallowing, and the mouth is predominantly closed, resulting in front and back teeth fitting into their correct position.
The tongue determines the shape and size of the upper jaw. If a child is a mouth breather, their tongue is unable to rest in the correct spot and the mouth will remain open. This causes the muscles of the jaws and face to restrict correct forward growth, forcing it backwards and downwards, resulting in narrow jaws and an underdeveloped face. Along with the concern of crowding, incorrect development of the upper jaw can affect a child’s breathing by restricting airway. Mouth breathing is also one of the main contributors of Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) problems. Snoring, interrupted sleep, morning tiredness and learning difficulties are a few common symptoms associated with it. SDB left untreated, can lead to significant and serious health problems that cause poorer quality of life in adulthood.
Another thing to watch out for is incorrect swallowing. This occurs when the tongue pushes forward and the lips push back when swallowing. When this happens, your front teeth will be pushed backwards, and this also causes your teeth to be crowded. A child swallows twice per minute and if they have an incorrect (reverse) swallowing pattern, the facial muscles will push backwards against the direction of growth, preventing the face from developing as it should
Also, the forces of the lips and cheeks greatly affect the positioning of the teeth and jaws. Poor muscle tone or incorrect control of the lip and cheek muscles make it difficult for the child to seal their lips together and increases overactivity when swallowing. . When swallowing there should be no activity of the lower lip.
