The Root Cause: Muscle Dysfunction
Did you know that a narrow palate or jaw often develops due to muscle dysfunction? This occurs when the tongue, lips, and cheeks don’t work together properly. While expanders and braces are highly effective at widening and aligning the palate or teeth, they only address the structural aspects. Without correcting dysfunctional muscle patterns, there’s a higher risk of relapse once these appliances are removed.
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If the muscles revert to old habits—like low tongue posture or tongue thrusting—the progress you've made can be undone. That’s why we focus on retraining oral muscles during orthodontic treatment to support the structural changes and help ensure long-term stability.
During Expansion
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Tongue Posture Training: Clients learn to rest their tongue on the roof of their mouth to engage with the expansion device, supporting a wider palate and proper oral posture.
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Myofunctional Exercises: Tailored exercises strengthen the tongue, lips, and cheeks to improve coordination and function during this critical period of change.
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Nasal Breathing Techniques: Breathing exercises promote nasal breathing, vital for airway health and maintaining muscle balance.
After
Expansion
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Maintaining Tongue Posture: Habits developed during coaching are reinforced to stabilize the expanded palate.
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Strengthening Oral Muscles: Continued exercises target oral muscle function to sustain the newly achieved structure.
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Integrated Function: Swallowing and chewing patterns are refined to align with the changes, reducing the likelihood of relapse.
Why
Co-Treating
Matters
Many orthodontists refer their clients to us because our approach addresses both structural and functional aspects of oral health. By working together during and after orthodontic treatment, we help ensure lasting results. This collaboration:
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Stabilizes structural changes.
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Breaks habits like tongue thrusting.
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Reduces the risk of relapse.
We’re here to guide you through every step of this journey and collaborate with your orthodontic team to achieve the best possible outcomes. If you’d like to learn more or schedule your next session, reach out—we’d love to help!
Words of Wisdom:
Your Journey Through Orthodontics and Myofunctional Coaching
Investing in your child’s health and development through orthodontic expansion and myofunctional coaching is a gift that sets the foundation for a lifetime of benefits. While the process may feel challenging at times, especially during periods of discomfort or slow progress, the results are well worth it.
Key Takeaways
1. Remember the "Why":
Focus on the long-term benefits—better breathing, proper jaw alignment, improved facial development, and enhanced overall health. These exercises address the root causes, not just the symptoms.
2. Avoid "Undoing" Progress:
Orthodontic expansion creates the structural space, but without muscle training, the results may not last. Myofunctional coaching ensures the muscles support and maintain these changes. Think of it like building a house: orthodontics lays the foundation, while therapy reinforces it.
3. Celebrate Small Wins:
Progress happens incrementally. Celebrate victories like improved sleep, clearer speech, or your child’s commitment to coaching. These small changes lead to big, lasting results.
4. Focus on Consistency Over Perfection:
Building new habits is hard, especially for children. Aim for consistency with short, daily practice sessions rather than striving for perfection. Over time, these small efforts will become routine.
5. Involve and Empower Your Child:
Help your child feel like an active participant in their journey. Acknowledge their efforts and remind them of how their hard work contributes to their growth and health.
6. Visualize the Future:
When motivation dips, imagine your child thriving—breathing easily, sleeping better, and feeling confident. This vision can inspire you to stay on track.
7. Make Exercises Fun:
Engaging children and teens is key to success. Incorporate games and activities into exercises to make the process enjoyable, relatable, and rewarding. By meeting them where they are, you encourage participation and help them take initiative in their progress.
The Importance of CBCT-Airway Scans in
Supporting Optimal Patient Outcomes
At The BreatheWell Group, we prioritize a comprehensive approach to patient care, particularly when addressing airway and orofacial concerns. One tool we highly value in achieving this is the CBCT-Airway scan. This imaging technology provides a detailed three-dimensional view of the craniofacial structures, allowing for a more thorough assessment of airway anatomy and potential obstructions.
The importance of this scan lies in its ability to aid in the early detection and management of airway issues that may contribute to sleep-disordered breathing, malocclusion, orofacial myofunctional disorders, and other systemic health concerns. Studies, such as the one found here, highlight how CBCT imaging plays a crucial role in identifying airway volume and patency, as well as understanding the interplay between skeletal structures, soft tissue, and the airway.
Why We Recommend CBCT-Airway Scans for Our Clients
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Accurate Diagnosis: A CBCT scan provides precise measurements of airway volume and detects structural abnormalities that might not be evident with traditional 2D imaging.
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Collaborative Treatment Planning: The detailed insights from the scan allow us to work collaboratively with dental providers, ENTs, orthodontists, and other specialists to ensure patients receive the most effective treatment.
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Improved Patient Outcomes: Early identification and management of airway concerns can prevent long-term complications and significantly enhance the quality of life for our patients.
When Referrals Are Necessary
If a patient's primary dental provider does not offer CBCT-Airway scans, we will gladly refer them to another qualified provider who does (who can also collaborate with the primary dental provider). This ensures that our clients receive the comprehensive evaluation necessary for tailored, evidence-based care.
We believe in fostering strong partnerships with dental professionals to provide the best care possible. By incorporating CBCT-Airway scans into diagnostic protocols, we can collectively help our patients achieve optimal oral and systemic health outcomes.
If you'd like to learn more about the role of CBCT-Airway imaging in collaborative care, feel free to reach out to us—we’re always happy to discuss how we can work together to better serve our shared patients.
We’re here to guide you through this journey. If you’d like to learn more or schedule your next session, feel free to contact us.