Dentistry goes far beyond simply straightening teeth and fixing cavities. It’s a crucial part of treating sleep apnea, teeth clenching, and even facial development issues.
If you struggle with facial development problems, you’ve probably heard about orthotropic treatment. What is orthotropic treatment, though?
We’re going to cover the basics, how it works, and how to get started.
What is Orthotropic Treatment?
Orthotropic treatment is when you use dental work, oral exercises, and oral appliances to reshape the face.
It might be a surprise to some people, but the condition of your mouth and jaw plays a big part in how your face looks and functions. The muscles are all connected, and when the mouth has issues, the face starts to reflect that.
The best example of this is when someone has lost all their teeth. The facial features around the mouth sink in, and the person looks entirely different.
Orthotropic treatment aims to slowly change the structure of the mouth to guide the face toward proper development. It not only helps your teeth but also helps your overall appearance.
What is Orthotropic Treatment Used for and Who?
Orthotropic treatment can be used in a wide variety of situations.
It’s largely used for facial development issues. It’s common to notice a facial issue stemming from poor oral health or teeth alignment, and then measures are taken to correct that issue.
There can even be early signs of facial development issues forming in children, and then orthotropic treatment will be used to prevent those issues.
There are also restorative reasons to use orthotropic treatment. As we mentioned earlier, when teeth are heavily damaged or missing, the face can start to sink in. Orthotropic treatment can help reverse that issue and give you your appearance back.
Orthotropic treatments are for children and adults of all ages.
How to Get Started with Orthotropic Treatment
Now that you’ve learned the answer to “what is orthotropic treatment,” the next step is starting your personalized plan.
You might have heard your regular dentist mention orthotropic treatment, or you might simply notice features of your face that you’d like to improve. Either way, starting treatment is easy.
First, you’ll participate in a consultation. This allows the dentist to determine what is causing the facial growth issues, how they can be remedied, and which specific treatment methods are going to be best for you.
Your care provider will customize your treatment plan. You’ll likely have a combined approach utilizing oral exercises and custom-made appliances that are designed to widen the jaw, align teeth, improve tongue posture, etc.
Treatment takes an extended amount of time. This isn’t something that shows results overnight. However, the treatment is non-invasive, and it mostly requires you to do daily exercises while wearing your appliance whenever your care provider tells you to.
All of that is guided. Your care provider will teach you how to do the exercises, instruct you on appliance usage, and check up on you regularly.
Within a few months, you typically start to see major improvements.
Get Started with Orthotropic Treatment Today
At Nevada Dental Sleep, we specialize in guiding patients through every step of orthotropic treatment with care and expertise. Whether you’re ready to address facial growth concerns or simply want to learn more, our team is here to help! Contact us today and start your journey toward a healthier smile!
