Holistic Orthodontics – Fix Mouth Breathing and Straighten Teeth Without Braces

Palatal Expander Therapy

Dr Adams uses custom designed expanders he designs and the assistance of biological forces including tongue pressure, chewing forces and neutral bite positions to create more room in the mouth. There is no one-size fits all appliance. The best expander depends on the size and shape of the face and jaw profile and the specific challenges.  Dr. Adams will select and design the best expander for the situation.   Palatal expansion therapy involves:

1. Wearing the removable expander at night time for 8-12 hours
2. perform 3 easy tongue exercises 3x per day. It will take a total of 5 – 10 minutes
3. Meet appointments to see Dr. Adams every 2-4 months
4. Most treatments will take 6-12 months for kids and 18-24 months for adults

What Age should Kids get Braces and Expanders?

Braces and expanders should be done between the ages of 5 and 14. 80% of jaw and facial development occurs by the age of 12. Dr. Adams prefers to see kids between the ages of 5-6 to determine what they need. Some kids will need early palatal expansion and others may need nothing more than a tongue tie release.

After age 14, appliances and techniques that stimulate growth and development will be necessary. For example the Vivos DNA Appliance. Never pull teeth for braces and straight teeth. Several anterior growth and palatal expansion appliances for young children exist such as the ALF appliance and Myobrace.

Crooked teeth is a sign that expansion is necessary

Crooked teeth are a sign of underlying problems such as facial under-development, small upper airway and poor tongue function. Tooth crowding is the writing on the wall that things are not growing or have not grown in the right direction. Paying attention to these warning signs can steer you away from future health problems.

Natural orthodontic services use the aid of biological forces such as the tongue, chewing forces and gentle functional appliances such the

ALF Orthodontics for Severe Teeth Crowding

An Example of a gentle functional appliance is an ALF appliance. Advanced light wire is an example of an expander. The natural expander can also be used to gently increase the size of the mouth and balance the shape of the jaws. It is invaluable in correcting tooth crowding and encouraging jaw growth so all the teeth and tongue can fit into proper places and spaces. The ALF can sometimes be an alternative to braces when tooth crowding is the issue. The ALF can help avoid the need to extract teeth to create more space for all the teeth to fit.

How Does the ALF fix Teeth that are Crowded?

The use of the ALF appliance and other functional appliances improves jaw and facial balance, bite balance and proper space for nasal / mouth breathing, tongue position. Proper “balance” and “space” is what creates stability, health and prevents future TMJ, posture and sleep problems. Use of traditional orthodontic wires may not correct facial asymmetries seen above and may not create enough space for teeth and healthy tongue position. If care is not taken with Wires, the teeth can be held back or pulled back too far in the mouth and into the airway. (We still promote the use of orthodontic wires, but only after proper balance and space has been created. In fact many of our cases are still done at least in part with orthodontic wires).

Traditional orthodontics has focused on moving teeth and getting them straight with metal wires, bands, and brackets. During child development, jaws and facial bones can under develop, causing a small mouth and too little room in the jaws for all the teeth to fit. Orthodontic wires if used improperly can restrict growth in a child.

How to start Holistic Orthodontics in Kids:

1. identify factors affecting tooth crowding and under-development. Most often we will find a tongue tie. A tongue tie restricts the range of motion of the tongue and causes a thinning of the tongue profile on extension. The tongue is the primary factor promoting jaw development outward and width wise. The tongue literally applies pressure to growing jaws in a child to promote the growth. When the range of motion of the tongue is restricted the tongue cannot apply enough pressure for optimal development. That is when we see teeth crowding, small jaws, poor nasal breathing and possibly even poor sleep and snoring.
2. Untie the tongue. An easy procedure with no bleeding, lasts 30 seconds with a laser
3. Tongue Exercises to increase the range of motion of the tongue.
4. Expansion with an ALF or DNA Appliance

Avoid Pulling or Extracting Teeth for Braces and Orthodontics:

Teeth are often extracted to create more space as a part of orthodontic treatment. Extracting teeth and pulling teeth back with wires is harmful. Removing teeth for braces, reduces the size of the mouth, nasal passageways, sinuses and the face in general. A small mouth can crowd the tongue and reduce the size of the airway. Airway problems can lead to TMJ problems, sleep apnea, chronic sinus issues, poor posture, chronic skeletal pain, metabolic problems and teeth clenching during sleep.

Natural orthodontia uses treatments to create more room in the mouth for all the teeth to fit more naturally. Treatment is centered around optimal oral-facial development and function. The use of an ALF appliance and tongue and chewing exercises is a common treatment course for crowded teeth.

Is there anything more important than breathing, proper posture, balance and overall health?

Identifying factors involved in Teeth Crowding and Facial Under Development:

1. Diet of soft foods such as Macaroni and Cheese, and Applesauce vs Celery and Chewy Meats and Nuts.
2. Tongue Tied improperly limiting range of motion of the Tongue
3. Airway Problems

Natural and normal oral-facial development helps promote healthy attractive smiles, healthy jaws, large airways, healthy posture and whole-body health. After all, promoting whole-body health through proper dental care is what holistic dentistry is all about.

Adult cases are more difficult because they often involve TMJ pain and Airway Problems

The DNA appliance can be used to re-develop adult jaws and facial bones to optimize and balance the upper and lower jaws. The DNA Appliance is very effective in treating TMJ problems due to its unique ability to create new growth and balance adult jaws. The DNA Appliance can create proper Space, Bite Balance and Facial Symmetry for the Adult. How to stop clenching teeth. And what are the different kinds of tooth wear and how does it happen?

More growth and development means more space for teeth to fit, be straight and balanced. The goal of holistic orthodontics is to create beautiful and balanced smiles as well as a healthier life and optimal breathing patterns during sleep. Optimal space in the mouth for tongue function and unobstructed breathing and airway is important. Critical to proper sleep and prevention of sleep apnea and teeth clenching during sleep. When proper orthodontic treatment is not completed properly the consequence is TMJ, sleep apnea and UARS. UARS stands for upper airway resistance syndrome. We love straight teeth, but cosmetics is not our only goal.