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Myofunctional

Did you know that three out of four children have crowded teeth and incorrectly developing jaws? These problems can be spotted from as early as five years of age. Modern research has shown that crowded teeth, incorrect jaw development and other orthodontic problems are caused not just by big teeth in small jaws or hereditary factors, but also by bad habits such as mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, reverse swallowing and thumb sucking. Allergies, asthma and an open mouth posture can also contribute. Regular orthodontic treatment does not always address the underlying causes of crooked teeth. This is why teeth very often crowd up again once braces have been removed.

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At Crescent Lodge Dental Practice in Clapham, we’re able to treat children from as young as six years old with a special form of orthodontics called Myofunctional and Orthopaedic Therapy. Orthodontists and dentists around the world have practiced Myofunctional orthodontic techniques for more than 50 years. Techniques involving light, intermittent forces are used to address poor oral habits (known as myofunctional habits) to stimulate natural growth and help align the teeth. By restoring balance in the face and jaws and correcting tongue posture and breathing function we can help to restore the aesthetic and functional framework that nature intended.

“I have been a patient of Jonny Swift’s for many years. I have also undergone orthodontistry with Dino. I can’t rate their ability and care highly enough. I now have a smile I can be proud of thanks to the wonderful team at Crescent Lodge, especially Jonny.”

Depending on the needs of your child, treatment can begin at a very young age. This may involve a simple, effective appliance, which is worn for short periods of time. The aim is always to guide natural growth and development and prevent harmful oral habits. In the long term this means a reduction in later orthodontic treatment and the extraction of permanent teeth, as well as better facial development.

These two photos show identical twins after orthodontic treatment for crowded teeth. One had teeth extracted in order to align their permanent teeth; the other was treated with an early interceptive approach and with non-extraction orthodontic treatment. The difference is clear:

To summarise a very technical process, we take comprehensive records to determine your child’s individual treatment needs based on:

mouth shape
facial proportions
gum lines
lip shape
natural teeth shape

For more information about Myofunctional and Orthopedic therapy in Clapham Common, London or to book a consultation with our experts, please contact us today! Call us on 020 7622 5333, email reception@dentistsw4.com or complete our contact form. Alternatively, please visit www.myoresearch.com or www.myobrace.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

A number of factors can lead to an open bite: harmful habits such as finger sucking or use of a dummy; or functional disorders such as inadequate pressure for an optimal position of the tongue during swallowing and speech.

There are many causes of mouth breathing. Some of the most common are: allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, enlarged tonsils, or nose fractures.

Absolutely – numerous published studies have shown myofunctional therapy to be an effective, long-lasting method of tackling orthodontic problems.

This will vary between cases and will depend on the issue to be alleviated. Children with sucking habits, for example, can benefit from therapy from as young as 5 years old, while those with other functional problems such as tongue thrusting can be deferred until 8 or 9 years of age. This is something we will discuss with you at your initial consultation.

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