Growth Appliances San Antonio, TX

Orthodontists use growth appliances to correct many issues, including encouraging your jaw and teeth to move into the correct position. Orthodontists often recommend growth appliances to correct improper jaw development and other issues, including crowded teeth, overbites, sleep apnea, and more.

Growth appliances are available at UC Smiles Orthodontics in San Antonio and the surrounding area. Our team provides recommendations to correct issues occurring in your mouth. We help you understand what causes these problems and how to fix them. Call us at (210) 672-1054 to learn more about our services.

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      Growth Appliances to Consider

      Orthodontic treatments require several different metal tools and appliances, sometimes including growth appliances. The American Association of Orthodontics states that, even though treatments typically range between ages nine and 14, younger children could also benefit from earlier treatment. Orthodontists will recommend a different type of growth appliance depending on the issue. These may include:

      • Palate Expanders: Palate expanders may be beneficial when there is not enough room in the mouth for teeth to fit correctly.
      • Orthodontic Growth Appliances: These appliances address issues for patients who breathe through their mouth, have improper lip seals, or improper tongue position.
      • Thumb Sucking Growth Appliances: Children may have significant dental issues if they suck their thumb beyond the age of three. Thumb sucking growth plates may help a child stop sucking their thumb.
      • Tongue Habit Growth Appliances: One’s tongue should rest at the roof of the mouth. Abnormalities can develop in the mouth if the tongue position is incorrect when eating, swallowing, or talking.

      “Orthodontists will recommend a different type of growth appliance depending on the issue.”

      Appliances for Facial Development

      Three factors influence facial development: lip seal, nasal breathing, and proper tongue position. If these factors are not present during development and growth, they can cause imbalances in the craniofacial structure. The result is a long-face syndrome or midface deficiencies because the jaws are not developing to their true genetic potential.

      The causes for these physical defects include:

      • Adverse swallowing patterns
      • Finger and thumb sucking
      • Genetics (approximately 10% of patients)
      • Improper tongue position
      • Lips apart, tongue not resting on the palate, and other improper oral positions
      • Soft tissue dysfunction causing mouth breathing (adenoids, allergies, enlarged tonsils)

      “Three factors influence the facial development: lip seal, nasal breathing, and proper tongue position.”

      Appliances for Tongue Habits

      Orthodontists commonly use tongue habit appliances to help address oral habit patterns. Examples of these appliances include cribs, prongs, rakes, spikes, and other tongue habit reminders. Most appliances for tongue habits feature designs that block your tongue thrust.

      Instead of dealing with the development of jaw problems, including a crossbite or misaligned teeth, one can use appliances for tongue habits. These appliances look similar to retainers used after their braces. A common tongue habit is thrusting, which typically resolves itself by age six. Similar to the palatal crib, tongue thrust appliances block the tongue from thrusting.

      “Examples of these appliances include cribs, prongs, rakes, spikes, and other tongue habit reminders.”

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      Appliances for Breaking Bad Personal Habits

      Most children stop sucking their thumbs between ages two and four. Habit appliances, or habit-breaking appliances, are dental appliances that help break bad personal habits. Habit appliances allow children to put their finger or thumb into their mouth, but it is not as comfortable. Eventually, the appliance discourages the child from continuing this habit.

      Other habits that may need appliances include:

      • Biting or sucking on their lower lip
      • Excessive pacifier use
      • Teeth grinding
      • Tongue thrusting

      “Habit appliances allow children to put their finger or thumb into their mouth, but it’s not as comfortable.”

      Comparing Upper, Lower, and Full Mouth Appliances

      Orthodontists use many useful techniques to break oral habits, including appliances that correct upper, lower, and full mouth issues. An orthodontist will assess the patient's mouth to determine which appliance is appropriate.

      • Upper Mouth Growth Appliances: These appliances work by gently creating additional space in your child’s mouth by expanding their upper jaw.
      • Lower Mouth Growth Appliances: Bionators are removable appliances that promote lower jaw growth.
      • Whole Mouth Growth Appliances: Anterior appliances work by gradually restructuring the jaw and surrounding areas to correct jaw structure issues, including overbites, TMJ disorder, underbites, and more.

      “An orthodontist assesses the patient’s mouth and determines which appliance is appropriate.”

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Q. How can I know if my child needs growth or habit appliances?

      A. If your child still sucks their thumb beyond age four, then they might need a habit appliance. If your child's orthodontist states that there's too much crowding in their mouth, they may need a growth appliance.

      Q. Are there specific benefits for habit appliances?

      A. Habit appliances are useful and minimally invasive. These appliances help your child stop detrimental oral habits. They continue working even when your child is distracted or sleeping.

      Q. What should my child expect during treatment?

      A. Treatments start with the placement of the appliance. Anchor bands affix the appliance to your child's back teeth. You can expect the design of the appliance to vary depending on your child's oral issues. During the first few days of use, your child may have a difficult time speaking clearly.

      Q. Are appliances painful?

      A. During the first few days after placing the appliance, your child may experience some soreness or discomfort as they adjust. The recommendation is to feed them soft food during this timeframe. Over-the-counter pain medications are also useful for managing pain. Once your child adjusts, they should not experience any pain. However, if they have a palate expander, they can expect pressure and pain during each adjustment.

      Quality Orthodontic Services Can Transform Smiles

      By visiting us as soon as possible, our team can help get you the professional treatment you need.

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      Definition of Orthodontic Terminology

      American Association of Orthodontics
      The AAO is an advocacy group for orthodontists created in 1900 representing orthodontists in the United States and abroad.
      Bruxism
      Bruxism is the tendency to grind or clench one’s teeth often usually during sleep.
      Molar Bands
      Molar bands are metal rings that fit around the molars to provide an anchor for the archwire.
      Orthodontic Appliance
      Orthodontic appliances have multiple forms that can help treat malocclusions, irregularity with the teeth, and disproportionate jaw issues.
      Orthodontist
      An orthodontist is a dentist who is specially qualified to diagnose, prevent, and treat any irregularities of the teeth and jaw.
      Palatal Expanders
      Palatal expanders are devices that gradually widen the upper jaw to create more space in a child’s mouth.
      Phase One Orthodontics
      Phase One orthodontics is orthodontic treatment that is performed before the permanent teeth have erupted.
      Thumb Sucking
      Thumb sucking refers to an oral practice common among children where they suck on their thumb out of habit in a way that causes dental problems.
      Tongue Crib
      A metal device that fits in the top front of the mouth to prevent habits like thumb sucking and tongue thrusting.
      Tongue Thrust
      A tongue thrust is a reflex in which the tongue thrusts too far forward when swallowing, typically leading to the malocclusion known as open bite.
      Whole Mouth Growth Appliances
      Also known as anterior appliances, whole mouth growth appliances work to gradually restructure the jaw and surrounding areas.

      Call Us Today

      Growth issues and dental habits can be frustrating. Our team helps parents navigate these issues to identify problems and solutions. We also provide follow-up care that ensures your child's growth is correct or identifies when they are breaking habits.

      Do not put off helping your child break oral habits. Let UC Smiles Orthodontics in San Antonio help. Contact us at 210-672-1054 to learn more about our growth habit appliances and services.

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      • UC Smiles Orthodontics was established in 2014.
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      • We serve patients from the following counties: Bexar County, Kendall County, Comal County, and Guadalupe County
      • We serve patients from the following cities: San Antonio, Universal City, Boerne, Stone Oak, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Fair Oaks Ranch, Garden Ridge, Selma, and Castle Hills
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