Correct what caused the crooked teeth
not just the crooked teeth!!!
Photos are actual patients at our office!

  

It seems most of our children these days are developing crowded teeth and their jaws are developing incorrectly. Although symptoms of this can be evident from as young as three years old, many dentists recommend waiting until the child is older to treat with braces and possibly extractions. There is a better way!

Crowded teeth do not just happen; they are a symptom as well as a warning sign that your child’s jaw and face are not developing correctly. With more than 30 years of extensive research, Myofunctional Research Co. (MRC) has proven why so many children have crowded teeth. The main culprits causing crowded teeth are poor oral habits, such as mouth breathing and incorrect swallowing, combined with the forces of the tongue, cheeks and lips. In order to prevent more serious problems developing in later years, these bad habits can and should be treated as early as possible. Early intervention can also achieve results that are not possible once the face and jaws have stopped growing.

Based on this research,  Dr. Butler uses a different approach to orthodontic treatment. MRC’s state of the art Myobrace® appliances correct bad oral habits in growing children and improve dental as well as facial development. This means orthodontic problems can be corrected much earlier than with traditional treatments and most often without the need for braces or extractions. Nurturing the child’s natural development using the Myobrace® system also allows children to develop to their genetic potential.

The main points of difference are Dr. Butler addresses orthodontic issues using these innovative appliances rather than fixed braces and early treatment is encouraged. Traditional orthodontics is directed at moving teeth whereas the Myobrace® treatment system uses a different principle in that the oral environment is improved by eliminating the bad habits causing crooked teeth. By achieving this, not only are teeth aligned, there is better retention.

Myobrace® appliances are easily used and worn for two hours each day, during normal daily activity, and overnight. Because of high demand from parents for this pain and stress free solution, Dr. Butler is devoted to this form of treatment and focused on improved facial development. The Myobrace System™ improves the appearance of the whole face and the fun, interactive treatment encourages children to take responsibility for correcting their habits.

Preventing the need for braces is now a viable possibility and more about this global trend away from traditional orthodontic techniques can be found at www.myobrace.com. The next step towards treatment is a consultation, which includes a nine point evaluation of the patient’s dental and jaw development along with an educational presentation. Please call us if you have any further questions or to schedule your consultation.

Orthotropics®
Traditional Orthodontics vs. Face Focused Orthotropics®

The traditional approach to orthodontics assumes that malocclusions are genetically determined and has a goal of making the teeth straight. In traditional treatment, permanent teeth are frequently removed and teeth are retracted in the face in the process. The Face Focused® approach recognizes that most malocclusions are functional in nature – largely rooted in a change of oral posture. In other words, the jaw position, tongue position, and lip positions are altered at rest. The resulting imbalance of muscles forces changes to tooth and jaw positions. Excellent research supports this philosophy. One of the major goals of Face Focused® treatment is to establish proper oral posture with the jaw, tongue, and lips properly postured at rest. Facial esthetics is the goal of Face Focused® treatment. Teeth are rarely removed and an effort is usually made to develop the teeth and jaws forward.

Comprehensive Early Treatment:
The Window of Opportunity for Facial Balance

The ideal time for the first orthodontic exam is prior to the eruption of the first permanent tooth – by age 5, in most instances. Since we are focused on facial esthetics and seek to correct problems of oral posture that produce malocclusions and prevent the best facial esthetics, the earlier we can examine and identify problems, the better the results will be. If ideal facial esthetics is the goal, the most ideal time to treat is the 6-10 year age group. By examining the patient at this age, we can plan treatment to occur at the best time for any given patient. Eruption of permanent teeth is not needed for us to recognize problems that will need treatment.

Early treatment can be much more than just correcting cross bites. Comprehensive Early Treatment focuses on eliminating crowding, correcting the bite relationship, and establishing proper oral posture at rest. Removal of permanent teeth is never done and headgears are never used since rarely do upper teeth stick out relative to the nose, cheeks, and forehead. Comprehensive Early Treatment can achieve facial esthetic results which, if left untreated, would require surgery at a later date.

Please visit www.orthotropics-na.org for more information.