Myofunctional Appliances are used in children who are in the growth phase and need perfectly aligned teeth. These are appliances that make use of muscles to get desired jaw growth. Children might develop certain habits like mouth breathing or tongue thrusting which can alter the cute adorable smile that they have now. It’s very important to visit an Orthodontist in Kochi to make his/her smile loveable.
Conventional orthodontic appliances make use of mechanical force to reposition teeth. However, this conventional fixed appliance therapy has certain limitations. These are caused because of aberrations in the process of developing the neuromuscular capsule surrounding the orofacial skeleton. To overcome this limitation, functional appliances have come into being.
Classification of Myofunctional appliances
- Removable
- Activator.
- Bionator.
- Frankel Appliance.
- Twin block appliance.
- Fixed
- Herbst appliance.
- Jasper jumper.
- Semi fixed
- Denholtz appliance.
- Bass appliance.
Mechanism of action of Myofunctional Appliance
The importance of Myofunctional Appliances lies in the growth modification of the jaws which gives you the desired aesthetics. Therefore, Myofunctional appliances use the natural forces of the muscles surrounding the mouth to normalize the teeth and supporting structures.
Also, Children who are in the growth phase are ideal for these appliances. It works before they hit puberty.
Advantages
- This can be done at a young age which relieves the child from embarrassment from friends due to irregular teeth and jaws.
2. This is mainly removable, hence is not very disturbing to the child.
3. Most Myofunctional appliances are worn at night time which is comfortable for the child. Doesn’t have to carry it to school or the playground.
4. The oral hygiene of your child is not hampered with such orthodontic appliance. But fixed orthodontic appliance makes it very difficult to maintain oral hygiene.
5. Your child doesn’t need to make a frequent visit to the dentist with this appliance. It needs proper parent monitoring to check they are using it.
Disadvantages
- Most importantly, the child’s cooperation is very important to get the desired results.
- Individual tooth movement is not possible with this.
- Not for adult patients whose growth has stopped.
- A patient may require fixed appliances at the end of the therapy to get perfect results.
Types of Myofunctional Appliances –
There are certain types of Myofunctional Appliances, which are effective but lesser known, compared to conventional braces as well as retainers. They include:
- The Nance Button: This is basically a holding arch, used to maintain space inside one’s mouth. It is ideal for those children who have lost their baby teeth and are waiting for their premature teeth.
- Lower Lingual Holding Arch: This particular holding arch plays the same role for the lower teeth as the Nance does for the upper jaw. It prevents the back teeth from moving forward.
- Twin Blocks: Twin blocks are those functional orthodontic appliances, which rectify major overjets in a year or less than that. An overjet refers to the misalignment in the jaw, which causes one’s child’s upper teeth to stick itself out in front of the lower teeth further than normal.
Process of Manufacture of Myofunctional Appliances
* Firstly, we register the impression or digital scan of the upper and lower jaw.
* Cast is prepared which serves as a replica for the mouth.
* Construction bite is registered for the activator.
* The desired appliance is fabricated with acrylic resin and several wire structure combinations.
*Consequently, the child is made to wear the appliance on the next visit.
Who needs Myofunctional Appliances?
- Angle’s class 2 malocclusion.
- Angle’s class 3 malocclusion.
- Class 1 open bite.
- Class 1 deep bite.
- The shorter vertical height of the patient’s lower face.
This is one of the best orthodontic appliances which is both acceptable to the patient and highly useful to get the optimum results. Therefore, Myofunctional appliances are one of the greatest inventions that enlighten the fact that all Orthodontic treatments in Kochi don’t require too much tooth pressure, several appointments, and a huge sum of money.
Myofunctional appliances act through muscle activity and are commonly used to correct these myofunctional dysfunctions. Its structure has components built to positively stimulate the masticatory and tongue muscles activity, altering the posture of the mandible to a forward position and also correcting orofacial habits, such as chewing and swallowing, and promoting nasal breathing.