Myofunctional Orthodontics

The nose is for breathing and the mouth is for eating. Chronic mouth breathing can lead to many issues including dental crowding, high arched and narrow palate, crooked teeth, and increased anterior facial height. This is because tongue placement is extremely important in guiding the growth of the jaws and the face.  Poor soft tissue dysfunction and body posture usually accompanies mouth breathing as well. Correcting resting tongue position, mouth breathing habits, and poor body posture is critical in achieving proper growth of the upper and lower jaws, face, and overall health of a developing child.

Possible dental findings in children with Soft Tissue Dysfunction includes: 

  • Crowding with insufficient room for adult teeth
  • Double row of teeth 
  • Deep Bite
  • Open Bite
  • Under Bite
  • Crossbite 
  • Constricted upper jaw
  • Grinding of teeth at night

 

Poor soft tissue dysfunction during growth and development will lead to poor growth pattern as illustrated in the video below.

 

What is a correct resting tongue posture?

  1. Lips together
  2. Tongue on the roof of the mouth
  3. Nasal breathing
  4. Good posture

If your child can successfully achieve these 4 goals, he/she is  heading in the right direction.

As always, we are happy to discuss findings and treatment options with our parents.

While parents usually worry about crooked teeth, it is important that they look beyond the teeth for clues about their child’s overall health.

LPD Orthodontics offers the following services:

  • Orthodontic consultations and second opinions 
  • Early Interceptive Myofunctional Orthodontic Intervention and Dental Facial Growth Guidance: (baby and mixed baby-adult teeth phase)
    • Light force expanders
    • Removable and glued in expanders
  • Teeth straightening: (adult teeth phase)
    • Metal Braces- Damon braces
    • Clear Aligners
    • Expanders – glued in
  • Surgical expansion for older teens to young adults (MSE/MARPE)
  • Digital Impressions and Scanning- no more goo!
  • Digital Radiography
  • In-house 3D printing

Did you know that Dr. Cindy is a dual-trained specialist? This makes her the only dual-certified pediatric dentist and orthodontist in Rockland County, NY!

What makes our multi- specialty practice so unique? 

All of our LPD patients benefit from the combined knowledge and training of our growth and development team.

Email Us