Children

Helping the Young Avoid Becoming a Futrue TMD Patient
Many of my Temporomandibular Disorder patient’s current problems can be traced back to childhood. For an adult to function fully, they need to have a fully developed face. Many things at different phases of childhood development can interferer with reaching full genetic potential.
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Infant Breast Feeding Problems
Any infant/mom struggling with breast feeding should be evaluated to see if lip or tongue tie is the problem. There is a simple that wil have a lifetime of benefit.

Symptoms include : New born not able to latch and breastfeed, failure to thrive, sore nipple, long breastfeeding times.

Infant with Restricted Upper Lip Frenum- Photo Courtesy of Dr Myriam Berrahil
Upper Frenum removed with Laser- Treatment by Myriam Berrahil DDS, Miami
Infant with Restricted Tongue Frenum- Photo Courtesy of Dr Myriam Berrahil
Tongue Frenum removed with laser- Treatment by Myriam Berrahil DDS, Miami

 

Airway
Children who breath through their mouth will lack having their tongue put pressure on the maxilla (upper jaw) during growth. The maxilla is dependent on the tongue to develop fully. Without the tongue putting pressure  on the maxilla it will end up  being narrow and will drift down. The maxilla is also the floor of the nose.

Signs and Symptoms in children include : Snoring, thumb sucking, enlarged tonsil and adenoids, lagging behind in growth, attention deficit disorder.

If this was not treated during childhood, as an adult  you will see a narrow maxilla, high palate, narrow nasal passages, gummy smile, airway problems, upper airway resistance.

Examples of various treatments; Retraining breathing and swallowing, allergy identification and diet changes, expanding upper and lower arches with lingual light wires (not braces), increasing vertical heigh of occlusion on select teeth to redirect growth, surgical removal of tonsils and adenoids, frenectomy.

“Many kids breath through their mouth. This needs to be corrected at any age. The sooner we correct the better.”
German Ramirez, DDS

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Resources

German Ramirez, DDS
Dr Ramirez has a free textbook you can read online at his website. He also offers courses for dentist on early treatment of malocclusion.
Free Textbook  Ramirez Free Textbook
Courses     Ramirez Courses

Treatment by Dr German Ramirez

Barry Rafael, DDS
Dr. Raphael teaches course on Myofunctional Orthodontics with the Myobrace System. He also offers numerous course related to kids and facial development.
Courses  Raphael Courses

Myobrace
Myobrace is one of many ways to help overcome dysfunctional breathing and swallowing. Their website is a source of some information. They offer courses around the world. I took Dr Raphaels course on Myobrace and found it to be outstanding.
Information on Myobrace About Myobrace
Courses on Myobrace Myobrace Courses

 

…………………Future Topics
Food Allergies/ Food sensitivities
Developing malocclusions