Myobrace treatment: Experience the benefits of comfortable airway-focused dentistry in Dana Point

Braces do not have to be inevitable, a rite of passage. Likewise, braces or other oral appliances may be just one proactive element used to restore proper function and development and support lasting health. Mark A. Cruz, DDS, embodies the spirit of modern, innovative dentistry. Our services transcend fillings, teeth whitening, and other procedures that the public generally expects from a dentist. With his leadership and pioneering in the area of airway-focused dentistry, Dr. Cruz can provide the most effective, personalized, and non-invasive treatment option available to patients in and around Dana Point, including Myobrace®. 

Benefits galore

Myobrace® represents a “myofunctional” therapy. The idea is to intervene as early as possible with those habits that cause the jaws and other structures to develop improperly. Myofunctional treatment is, in turn, based on the study of the mouth and facial muscles. There is a particular focus on the position, posture, and movement of the lips, tongue, and cheeks. When there are problems related to such orofacial position or patterns, your child may experience chronic migraines, earaches, facial pain, and other symptoms associated with dysfunction of the Temporomandibular Joint that connects the jaws to the skull. Patients may suffer from frequent infections (ear, nose, throat) and have poorly defined facial features. These far-reaching effects may arise due to behaviors, such as:

• Mouth-breathing
• Thumb-sucking
• Tongue-thrusting
• Poor lip control or overactivity when swallowing

We can alter these habits with a combination of behavioral modification techniques and specialized appliances. An effective treatment that resolves these behaviors supports properly functioning muscles and allows your child to reach his or her full developmental potential. There is adequate room for the teeth to erupt correctly, eliminating the need for braces later on or preventing relapse from previous orthodontic treatment. Removable Myobrace® appliances, when worn daily as directed by our dentist, have a positive effect on muscle function, tongue posture, and breathing. These appliances are combined with trademarked “activities,” myofunctional exercises that correct lasting, natural change patterns. Conventional braces may provide a temporary “fix” for the complications that arise from myofunctional problems. 

Therapy may also be appropriate for adults. A three-stage system is designed for patients with all of their permanent teeth. From a softer device to a firm one, three different types of appliances correspond with varying phases of treatment to address disordered breathing and functional problems. Partly, this trio establishes proper nasal breathing and swallowing and an expanded arch and tissue repositioning. These appliances have a high compliance rate because they are lightweight, discreet, and generally easy to care for, and easy to wear. Myobrace® therapy is also a conservative alternative to invasive surgical procedures or cumbersome therapies (like CPAP).

You (or your child) deserve to feel better. Optimal health and all the benefits that follow are on the horizon. Contact us today at (949) 661-1006 to schedule your visit to our office in Dana Point.