Orthodontics, the branch of dentistry focusing on the alignment and correction of teeth and jaws, has witnessed significant advancements over the years. Among these innovations, habit-breaking devices have gained prominence as effective tools in addressing detrimental oral habits. These devices play a crucial role in promoting optimal oral health by breaking habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and mouth breathing.
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Harmful oral habits can pose significant challenges to orthodontic treatment. Thumb sucking, for instance, can lead to misalignment of teeth and changes in the shape of the jaw. Tongue thrusting, where the tongue pushes against the front teeth during swallowing, can also result in orthodontic issues. These habits, if not addressed in a timely manner, can undermine the effectiveness of orthodontic interventions such as braces or aligners.
Habit-breaking devices are designed to interrupt, discourage, and stop detrimental oral habits. Habit breakers allow the normalization of tongue, lip, and cheek pressures, thus allowing for successful orthodontic treatment. Some habit breakers are able to move teeth back into their ideal position.
At MyBracesClinic, we do NOT use goopy impressions to take a mold of teeth; that is just passé and uncomfortable! We are a fully digital clinic using a digital, light-based 3D scanner, iTero, to capture a 3D model of your child’s teeth and oral cavity. From the 3D printout of your child’s teeth and bite, we will design and fabricate your child’s customized habit breakers. Easy!
These devices are typically custom-made and prescribed by orthodontists based on each patient’s specific needs. At MyBraceClinic, our Orthodontic Team will share the various palatal expanders available, as well as discuss each designs‘ pros and cons to find a Habit breaker that best fit your child’s needs. Here are some common habit-breaking devices used in orthodontics:
Tongue tamers are devices stuck on the back of the upper front teeth to deter tongue thrusting and thumb-sucking. Tongue tamers protrude out to create a physical reminder to the tongue and thumb to stay back! Being fixed-on and non-removable, tongue tamers are an effective intervention.
Tongue cribs are devices used to deter tongue thrusting by creating a ‘gated’ obstruction to confirm the tongue. This makes the habit difficult to maintain. They are custom-made to suit the individual’s oral anatomy, allowing for effective intervention. Tongue cribs can look intimidating and medieval, making their acceptance level poor for a young child. Fixed tongue cribs are ‘unforgiving’ but does take care of the compliance issues of removable tongue cribs.
Palatal expanders are not only used to address issues related to narrow palates but also to discourage mouth breathing. By widening the upper jaw, palatal expanders help correct the oral posture and break the habit of breathing through the mouth.
Invisalign First, designed for palatal expansion in kids, is a good option for comfort and efficiency. Invisalign First actively moves and correct teeth adversely affected by chronic poor habits as well as encorages the cessation of the habit.
Thumb guards are orthodontic appliances worn over the thumb, making thumb-sucking uncomfortable or less satisfying. These devices are crafted to be age-appropriate and can be customized to ensure a proper fit.
Lip bumpers are appliances designed to create a barrier between the lips and teeth, preventing habits like lip biting or sucking. They contribute to maintaining the correct positioning of the lips during orthodontic treatment.
By addressing harmful oral habits, habit-breaking devices contribute to orthodontic treatments’ overall success and efficiency. Orthodontic interventions can proceed more smoothly and finish faster when detrimental habits are minimized or eliminated.
Breaking detrimental oral habits is essential to prevent the relapse of bite problems caused by the imbalance of lip, tongue, and cheek pressures of long-term sucking. Habit-breaking devices are crucial in ensuring that the results achieved through orthodontic treatment are maintained over the long term.
Customized habit-breaking devices are more comfortable, well-fitting, and more likely to be tolerated by patients. This leads to improved compliance with treatment recommendations and faster treatment results.
When correctly designed, Habit Breakers produce fast results that motivate and encourage patients to break the habit once and for all. This leads to happier and less stressful families with less nagging.
Habit-breakers are integral to the plan to help chronic thumbsuckers, mouth breathers, and tongue thrusters break the habit for good. Our experienced Orthodontic Team is trained to diagnose underlying conditions contributing to this prolonged habit. If needed, we work with ENTs and speech therapists for the holistic management of our patients. Book an appointment at MyBracesClinic today and let us help you.
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