Synergy Dental Solutions 1000 Eleven South Suite 3F Columbia, IL 62236 US
Getting to the root cause of the problem
Begin with the "why".
When a child has crooked teeth (or even worse a crooked face), we should be looking at the question:
"Why do they not have enough room in their mouth for their teeth?"
When a child is breathing through their mouth instead of their nose, we should be asking:
"Is there a reason why they choose to breathe through their mouth?"
If a child is sucking their thumb, grinding their teeth or chewing on objects:
There is an underlying problem that hasn't been addressed.
The head bone is connected to the neck bone...
It's common sense to most, yet often forgotten by the healthcare providers dedicated to their specialized areas of care .
There are many scientific articles highlighting the many important and relevant connections between the mouth and the body, but this news has even made its way into the world of late night talk shows.
The following link will allow you to learn how one celebrity received advice from an orthodontist and an osteopathic physician that work as a team to help their patients mouths and bodies work together as well.
The teeth are connected to the bones of the head.
The bones of the head surround and directly influence the brain and brainstem.
The head sits on the neck.
The air that moves through the head and the nerves that live in the head influence entire body.
It's a big deal.
If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Traditional Orthodontic Habit Correction Options
When a child has a habit, such as thumb sucking, mouth breathing or "tongue thrusting", many dental and orthodontic providers will choose dental appliances that induce pain or discomfort to induce the habit to self correct.
The tongue should create pleasure - not pain.
When you think of the many things that the tongue is involved in that are SUPPOSED to be pleasurable, why would you create pain instead of understanding WHY they have the habit?
What do you think that the brain, nervous system and emotional system might do when faced with repetitive pain 2000-3000 times per day every time that they swallow?
Yes - the child might stop the habit, but at what cost? Click on the following link to hear actress Emma Stone discuss her experience with a traditional dental habit correction appliance:
Choosing pleasure instead of pain
By using one of the petite, sophisticated dental appliances called ALF that encourage proper tongue function, the patient is able to feel great and benefit from all that ALF Therapy has to offer. ALF Therapy is very soothing and comfortable. Instead of punishing the tongue, you can help your child learn better behaviors while addressing the reason why the tongue might have been doing "the wrong thing".
In most cases, the tongue just needs a persistent yet gentle reminder through the sophisticated design of the ALF Appliance and some skilled coaching from a "tongue trainer" such as a licensed provider trained in orofacial myology.
By understanding WHY the child has the habit, you can figure out WHAT they need to overcome their obstacle.
Airway Matters
The "i" in TEAM is in the "air hole".
More and more dental professionals are becoming aware of the influence of the airway, but many still do not actively get involved with being part of the solution to the orthodontic component of airway development.
Let's say this very clearly:
If a child cannot breathe through their nose, they WILL breathe through their mouth.
If a child breathes through their mouth, they will have an increased risk of dental decay as well as crooked, crowded teeth.
If a child has crooked crowded teeth and orthodontic treatment is delayed until age 12 when most orthodontists choose to begin treatment, 90% of facial growth has already been completed and there is a good chance that they will not have enough room in the bones of the face for their teeth.
If a child begins orthodontic treatment without addressing the reason why they needed orthodontic treatment in the first place, there is a much higher chance of relapse and needing to do braces again later in life.
If the child does not have enough room in their mouth for their teeth AND they;
- Snore
- Breathe through their mouth instead of their nose
....there is a functional reason behind their dental issues and the child could benefit from a functional approach to orthodontic care with a wholistic approach to wellness.
How do you know if your child has a problem?
Mouth breathing
Prolonged pacifier use
Mouth breathing
.
Snoring
Prolonged pacifier use
Mouth breathing
.
Prolonged pacifier use
Prolonged pacifier use
Prolonged pacifier use
.
Tooth grinding
Thumb/Finger sucking
Prolonged pacifier use
.
Picky eating
Thumb/Finger sucking
Thumb/Finger sucking
.
Thumb/Finger sucking
Thumb/Finger sucking
Thumb/Finger sucking
.
Dental COnditions (under construction)
Open bite
Open bite
Open bite
When the upper and power front teeth do not touch and you can see the tongue without the child opening their mouth.
Crossbite
Open bite
Open bite
The upper teeth are inside of the row of lower teeth instead of outside of the lower teeth. Crossbite can be on one side (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral)
Overbite
Open bite
Underbite
When there is space between the inner side of the upper front teeth and the outer side of the lower front teeth. This happens when the lower jaw is smaller than the upper jaw.
Underbite
No spaces between teeth/crowded teeth
Underbite
When there is space between the outer side of the upper front teeth and the inner side of the lower front teeth. This happens when the upper jaw is smaller than the lower jaw.
Deep Bite
No spaces between teeth/crowded teeth
No spaces between teeth/crowded teeth
The lower teeth are either not visible or almost completely covered by the upper from teeth when the mouth is closed.
No spaces between teeth/crowded teeth
No spaces between teeth/crowded teeth
No spaces between teeth/crowded teeth
In an ideal situation, there are supposed to be spaces between baby teeth. When there are no spaces and/or the baby teeth are crowded, it is a prediction that facial growth is inadequate for ideal development and interventive orthodontic techniques are advised.