Orthopaedic Orthodontics

Orthopaedic Orthodontics, also known as Dento-Facial Orthopedics, is a method or approach to orthodontics that helps to guide facial development through the use of functional appliances.

Many children, who require orthodontic treatment, do so, due to a bad bite, or jaw discrepancy. Many children have under developed lower jaws, and this can respond very positively to Early Treatment, getting your child’s smile off to a good start at an early age. Some children have a genetic tendency to a large, or over developed lower jaw, and this can produce an unattractive look as the child grows. Again, taking an approach to help your child with this problem at an early age can very much reduce further work that may be needed later at the end of the teenage years.

Mouth Breathing can produce narrow arches and unattractive smiles. Using functional appliances during active periods of growing can help achieve broad beautiful smiles. Untreated mouth breathing can also lead to poor sleep habits and insufficient quality of sleep, resulting in daytime fatigue and an inability to concentrate at school and sometimes to headaches.

Crowded teeth are almost always caused by narrow arches. By developing the arches at an early age, there is a good chance of preventing or sometimes even eliminating crowding of permanent or adult teeth.

Narrow jaws tend to confine the tongue and may interfere with clear normal speech. After functional appliance therapy, a child’s ability to speak clearly may be greatly enhanced as a result of ensuring proper jaw growth.

There are some views held that Deep Overbites and receding lower jaws may sometimes cause ear problems, such as earache or ear stuffiness. If infection has been ruled out as a cause, then functional appliances may eliminate or reduce these symptoms.

During EARLY AGE ORTHOPEDIC ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT, patients may choose to visit a Cranial Osteopath or Cranially Trained Chiropractor to enhance the benefits of treatment. Talk to your dentist about this if you’d like to know more about this interesting work.

FUNCTIONAL APPLIANCES CAN HELP CORRECT:

• Narrow Arches
• Crowded Teeth
• Bite Problems
• Underdeveloped Jaws
• Deep Overbites
• Breathing/Airway Problems
• Thumb/Finger Sucking Habits
• Jaw Joint Problems

FUNCTIONAL APPLIANCES MAY PREVENT OR REDUCE:

• Speech Difficulties
• Crowding
• Lengthy use of fixed brackets
• Removal/Extraction of Permanent/Adult Teeth
• Fang-Like Tooth Appearance

WANTING THE BEST FOR YOUR CHILD

All parents want the best for their children.

That includes Straight Teeth, Properly sized Jaws, Attractive facial Profiles and Beautiful Smiles.

Early Treatment can often eliminate the need to remove adult teeth.

Treating problems early can greatly enhance the child’s well being and sense of self esteem, but additionally it can help produce a healthier child, improving quality of sleep and performance at school.