When is Myobrace a good idea? Great question and a perfect blog topic for a Gold Coast dentist who wants to provide options for patients.
Is it the next big thing?
When you’ve been in practice as long as I have – more than 30 years – you learn to be cautious about new technology emerging on the market. One of my team, Penny, a hygiene therapist shares her thoughts in this video too.
This is particularly true when it holds the promise of good things in the way that Myobrace does. I’m a dentist after all, and with preventative care a cause very close to my heart, I feel it pays to take all care. Like all good clinicians, I’m quick to scrutinise anything that affects my patients; in some ways even more so when it affects our younger patients.
I’m pleased to report that even if Myobrace isn’t the next big thing as the question asks, it is proving to be more than a passing fad in treatment of crooked teeth and other issues affecting facial development.
What is Myobrace?
It is a no-braces approach to straightening teeth and jaws. Developed by orthodontists, Myobraces uses myofunctional orthodontic techniques to address poor oral habits that cause crooked teeth.
One of the big benefits of the system is you can start early with your kids’ treatment.
By intercepting early, it’s possible to take a more natural approach to straightening teeth. This is because Myobrace technology makes it possible to work with a child’s natural growth and biology.
By approaching the straightening of teeth this way, you may avoid having to invest in traditional braces in the future. Anyone who’s been through the challenge of extensive orthodontic treatment will tell you this is worth considering. My opinion? Because prevention’s my thing, the possibility of avoiding or reducing treatment down the track definitely warrants an investigation of Myobrace as a treatment option for children between the ages of six to ten years.
How does Myobrace work?
It works by addressing poor oral habits that cause crooked teeth. This includes habits like mouth breathing and having the incorrect tongue position.
Perhaps you’ve noticed in these in your child but not thought too much about it, but I’m here to let you know that allowed to continue they can cause your child issues in future. Early correction of seemingly small issues can save your child from a lifetime of dental (and other) health issues as an adult.
The Myobrace is different to traditional braces and straightening treatment in that it does not require 24/7 application.
Instead, Myobrace works by the patient wearing a removable appliance for one or two hours throughout the day, and at night while sleeping. Wearing the appliance according to this protocol, together with undertaking a series of activities to improve the breathing of your child, and correcting the tongue position, can help to improve alignment of the teeth.
How do I know if my child needs Myobrace?
Now we’ve introduced Myobrace into our own practice, this is a question we’re being asked by parents, so we should clear that up too.
The best thing to do is see your regular dentist or hygiene therapist for a comprehensive check. That way you gain a clear understanding of why your child might benefit from treatment.
Before you make that appointment, you can also look out for whether your child is breathing through their mouth, grinding teeth at night while sleeping, and if they have crooked teeth.
These are all good indicators your child might benefit from the Myobrace system.
A final word
We are really pleased to to introduce Myobrace into the Dental as Anything practice.
Apart from always looking for new ways to service our patients, the Myobrace philosophy resonates with our own – preventative oral health care.
For us, this is at the heart of how we approach our patient care.
Want to know more? Call (07) 5573-0188 to book a consultation today.
