Functional orthodontics is a new cosmetic dentistry approach that factors in all these complex interactions to not just straighten your teeth, but also improve your facial appearance, combat TMJ, and reduce or eliminate sleep apnea. All with treatment that’s 30% faster than traditional braces.
Want to learn whether you’re a candidate for this new, exciting approach to orthodontics? Please call (703) 323-8200 today for an appointment with Fairfax County cosmetic dentist Dr. Pamela Marzban in Burke, VA.
Benefits of Functional Orthodontics
- Works for children, teens, and adults
- Encourages natural development of the jaw
- Improves profile and facial appearance
- Corrects TMJ
- Improves sleep apnea
- Works about 30% faster than traditional orthodontics
- Compatible with myofunctional therapy
Although most people think of orthodontics as something we do as teens, Functional orthodontics is effective for adults as well.
With few exceptions, we are all genetically predisposed to develop healthy, straight teeth. It often doesn’t happen that way, however, thanks to environmental and behavioral factors such as indoor air quality, the modern diet, and other causes. Functional orthodontics techniques are designed to draw out your natural developmental potential.
Since the structure of your jaw defines the structure of your face. If your jaw is underdeveloped, it can impact your facial appearance, especially your profile. Functional orthodontics takes this into account. Functional techniques are cosmetic dentistry that doesn’t just straighten your smile, it can reshape your face. And now, with Digital Smile Design (DSD), Dr. Marzban can use more digital imagery to help plan your Functional orthodontics with DSD, Dr.
Marzban looks at pictures and even videos to better understand the aesthetics of your smile. Then she plans a treatment that harmonizes all the features of your face.
In developing your jaw, Functional orthodontics techniques are also working to improve its function as well as its appearance, which can help correct TMJ. And because the size and shape of the jaw also define the size and shape of the airway, reshaping the jaw can improve breathing. This not only helps treat sleep apnea, it can improve breathing during the day, too.
Because Functional techniques are designed to work with your natural development, they’re compatible with myofunctional therapy, which leverages your muscles to encourage jaw development. And because it’s not fighting your body, Functional Orthodontics is about 30% faster than traditional orthodontics and can be even faster with myofunctional therapy.
How Functional Orthodontics Works
In many ways, Functional orthodontics techniques look and function just like traditional orthodontics. The technique uses brackets and archwire to apply specific forces to the teeth in order to encourage them to move.
What’s different is the nature of the forces used. Traditional orthodontics developed in the 19th century and just tried to take the shortest arbitrary path to straight teeth. The forces used were determined by a basic–and somewhat mistaken–understanding of the mechanisms of tooth movement. Even modern orthodontic techniques like Invisalign may retain vestiges of these older principles. They still work, but aren’t always the best for everyone.
Functional orthodontics techniques benefit from centuries of research into the natural mechanisms that govern the development of the teeth and jaws. It doesn’t just take a straight line between the current position of the teeth and the desired position. It uses forces that mimic the natural forces of tongue, cheeks, and jaw muscles. This emulation of natural forces helps the teeth move faster and encourages the growth of the jaws as well.
And because it’s trying to mimic these forces, it’s a perfect complement to myofunctional therapy. In myofunctional therapy, we work to identify bad habits of tongue and jaw muscles you’ve picked up that may contribute to (or be caused by) the improper development of teeth and jaws. We then teach you habits that encourage better development. This works with Functional orthodontics techniques to speed treatment and improve results.
Do you want to learn how Functional orthodontics can benefit you? Please call 703-323-8200 today for an appointment with Dr. Pamela Marzban in Burke, VA.
