Functional orthodontics

The concept of functional devices also includes removable appliances:

• the Frenkel apparatus;

• all types of elastopositioners;

• LM activators;

• trainers;

• Miobrace systems;

• transparent elastic double-jaw mouth guards;

These devices are usually worn by children or teenagers at night and for a few hours during the day. They work in such a way that they eliminate excessive pressure of the lips, cheeks, tongue and normalize the balance between the muscles. Therefore, the muscles do not hinder the growth of the jaw, but on the contrary help. And the wearer of this apparatus forms either a physiological bite or a more correct bite, which will be easier to correct in the next stage, if you need treatment on the bracket system or on eliners or on the next apparatus. Because there may be more than one appliance. As the child grows and grows out of them, and we need to give the next one..

Indications for wearing removable appliances

It is better to take your child to an orthodontist prophylactically every six months at least to see if they need treatment or not. The classic indicator is a small jaw. Let's say the patient has been to the dentist and was told that a small jaw, teeth will erupt crookedly. Or a bad bite - the upper jaw overlaps the lower jaw too much. Or the child has a bad habit – mouth breathing, which stems from problems with the ENT organs. The ENT doctor will also refer this problem to an orthodontist.

The treatment process after consultation with an orthodontist

1. After consultation, if we decide with the parents and the child that we are shown treatment with functional equipment.

2. The next step – is the diagnosis.

3. After the diagnosis, we get the jaw models, all the photos, do all the calculations, take the necessary pictures. This is usually a lateral X-ray and CT scan.

4. We calculate and make the device. Either it will be an individual device, for example, the Frenkel device, which the technician manufactures, or it will be an elastopositioner, which we select according to the line of the most suitable for this child.

5. We order the device, receive it in 1-2 weeks, call the patient and his parents for an appointment, hand over the device, give recommendations on wearing, care, and visits.

6. Visits are recommended once a month, you need to talk to them and check how the child is wearing the device. Then we release it with the device for 2 months.

7. A check-up once every 1-2 months. If the device requires some kind of activation, then an orthodontist does it.

What is the duration of orthodontic treatment?

Treatment may last depending on the stage at which the patient came to us.

• If he got to the orthodontist as a teenager, and the doctor got into the growth stage, when these functional devices still work well, then treatment can last about a year, followed by a retention period when the patient is asked to wear the same device at night or another suitable one is prescribed so that the result of treatment does not go away.

• If it is a small child, then the treatment can last quite a long time. Many parents now agree to start treatment as early as possible and prevent pathology, rather than waiting for it to worsen and treat a more complex one.

What are the causes of abnormalities?

• The cause is most often – it is mouth breathing when the nose is not breathing. If the ENT treatment has been carried out, the child may continue to breathe through the mouth as a habit. If this is not compensated for in any way, it remains as a bad habit. As a consequence, the upper jaw can be narrowed and we start to develop bite pathology, lack of space for teeth, deep bite, distal bite.

• The second reason – when the patient breathes through the mouth, the patient's tongue is usually positioned in the lower floor, the tongue can push forward the mandible and there is an overgrowth of the mandible and a medial bite, open bite, crossbite – this is also a pathology. Sometimes babies suck their fingers. Sometimes they bite their lip. Which lip bites the upper or lower – this also affects what pathology will be.

• Genetic factors. If a patient comes in with a medial bite and jaw forward. It is advisable for the orthodontist to look at the parents, if one of them has the same jaw - it is genetics. If a patient has overcomplete teeth erupting, it is possible that one of his relatives had this.

• Congenital pathologies – it can be, for example, cleft lip and palate, but orthodontist does not work with such complex issues - this is handled by special institutions.

On what principle are removable techniques assigned?

• First stage - they are prescribed during the period of active growth – this is 7-8 years of age.

• The next moment – it is 11-12 years old, when it is even possible to put a bracket system. Sometimes if at this age there is no curvature of teeth, but the bite is wrong, you can offer parents to start treatment with a functional apparatus. Sometimes for financial reasons, it is cheaper for parents to buy a functional appliance than to put braces, if the child honestly says that he or she will wear it.

How to motivate a child for treatment?"

It is very important to motivate a child properly. If the child is not motivated, he will not wear anything. The orthodontist's job is to explain that the child needs it, that it will be beautiful, that it's their future, that it's their smile.

In the practice of our orthodontists, children usually don't honestly tell in front of their parents. Then the doctor asks the parents to remove themselves. The children usually admit that they don't wear all the time. There is always a reason in these situations. If they laugh at school, then it is necessary to agree that the child wears only at night and on weekends, when he does not go to school. But if unacceptable, then wear the device at night, at home, on weekends.

How to teach children to wear records?

It's very easy, children get used to it quickly. If nothing interferes with the child, and he is comfortable. The biggest problem is speech, they hardly speak in them, nothing is clear. This is solved like this: you need to ask the child to take a book and read aloud until you can pronounce the words normally. Literally a week and they are already chatting normally with them. It is not difficult to teach, the main thing is discipline.

What should I do when I put in an appliance and my child's tooth falls out or erupts?

You should definitely visit an orthodontist. If some teeth have erupted and are in the way, the orthodontist can file the plastic or bend a wire. If that doesn't help, then you need to take it to his technician for re-milling. It's important to get the appliance in quickly. It is bad when a month has passed. For example, they made a diagnosis, ordered the device, and the child comes in a month or 2, because they went on vacation. If the device sits down - well, everyone is lucky. In 50% of cases it can be corrected, but it is better not to delay more than 2 weeks.

How to care for appliances?"

Any appliance needs to be cleaned, just like teeth. If it's a plastic appliance, you should brush it with toothpaste or a brush and soap. You should get a separate soft brush, you can use your child's former favorite brush. And use it to clean the device.

You can't eat in functional appliances. It's unrealistic, they're bicuspid. You have to take the appliance out before you eat. Then you put it back on. It's best to rinse your mouth. Ideally brush your teeth. Do not allow them to consume sweet drinks, sodas. If a child wants to drink a glass of Coca-Cola, it is necessary to take off the device, drink, brush the teeth or at least rinse, then put on the device. Because sweet drinks will remain on the appliance, on all the structures that are adjacent to the teeth, to the gums, so it will eat bacteria, increasing the possibility of tooth decay - so it is important to brush your teeth very well.

Cost of orthodontic treatment for children