Book An
Appointment

Before & After

Early Treatment (Phase I) OVERBITE

Early Treatment (Phase I) for Underbite

Phase II Over Bite (Adult)

Facial asymmetry with mid-line deviation

underbite

Underbite with Open bite

Open Bite with Mid-Line Deviation

Facial Asymmetry with Underbite

Open Bite with TMJ Pain

Phase I, Early Orthodontic Treatment

Phase I or early orthodontic /orthopedic therapy is aimed at correcting a specific dental (orthodontic) or bone (orthopedic) problem affecting the normal dental and facial growth of your child during mixed or even late primary dentition.

Every child is born with a small and recessed lower jaw (aka the mandible). With the eruption of the anterior teeth, the mandible is limited to function within this boundary influencing the jaw joint (aka the TMJ) to slowly assimilate the shape of the anterior teeth lingual concavity.

In other words, under normal craniofacial complex growth, a shape correlation exists between the anterior teeth and the TMJ as they depend on each other during movement.

The eruption of teeth, the innate bone growth from the neighboring structures and the functional demands of the masticatory organ (chewing, talking, breathing, swallowing, grinding, etc.) create the right stimuli for the mandible to grow down and adapt forward.

The mandible itself has limited growth capacity and follows a secondary growth pattern, meaning that all the previously mentioned factors (e.g. eruption of teeth, normal bone growth and function of the masticatory organ) must be present to push the mandible down and create an unload condition first. Bone will be added to the condyle (tip of the mandible) and the mandible will grow down and forward following the interdigitation of teeth or the lack of it.

A child whose teeth are positioned in such a manner that limits the normal development of the TMJ will certainly experience not only orthodontic adaptations but also breathing, postural, vision, hearing and speech adaptations as well.

A very common problem in young patients is the presence of a dental crossbite. As inoffensive as it may look, a posterior crossbite may shift the dental midline and create not only a dental but also a craniofacial complex adaptation. If untreated, a dental asymmetry is perpetuated throughout the life of an individual affecting not only the growing TMJ but also the relationship between the neck bones, the head, body posture, breathing, vision, hearing and much much more.

Equally noteworthy is the presence of an anterior crossbite which may position the mandible forward ahead of its socket and perpetuate a facial configuration characterized by an under-bite with a mid-face deficiency, breathing, and postural alteration.

Because human craniofacial complex has the highest adaptation capacity during childhood, many orthodontic conditions affecting the craniofacial orthopedics can be successfully addressed or drastically lessen its severity. At E Line Orthodontics, we treat early by redirecting and creating a suitable environment for your child’s craniofacial complex to adapt. At times, in addition to early orthodontic therapy, we will recommend the evaluation and treatment of other professionals such as the ENT physician, physical therapy doctors, optometrist and more.

Phase I or early orthodontic/orthopedic therapy is aimed at correcting a specific dental (orthodontic) or bone(orthopedic) problem affecting the normal dental and facial growth of your child during mixed or even late primary dentition.

 

Non-surgical Orthodontic treatment

Have you been told that the only way to correct your bite is through surgery? Are you waiting to be old enough to become a candidate for orthognathic jaw surgery? If you answered YES to any of these questions, you are likely to be a candidate for MEAW (multiloop edgewise archwire) or GEAW (gum metal edgewise archwire) Non Surgical Functional Orthodontic Treatment.

Traditional medicine and orthodontics view cranio-facial complex as a static structure with limited capacity to adapt once maturity is reached. Nevertheless, a growing number of evidence demonstrated that human cranio-facial complex is dynamic in nature (just like any other part of the human body) and is constantly responding to the internal and external environment by adapting and compensating to function and support life. From this dynamic and integrative perspective, malocclusion and facial disharmonies are not diseases but rather an expression of environmental and epigenetic factors.

At E Line Orthodontics, we aim at correcting a wide range of facial disharmony with its associated malocclusion by reversing the dental factors that contributed towards creating a facial disharmony in the first place. And contrary to the orthognathic  jaw surgery, our orthodontic treatment approach allows a steady reversal of the facial disharmony through the use of the MEAW or GEAW orthodontic technique targeting the etiology of the malocclusion rather than its symptoms. The outcome is a gradual and effective reversal of the facial disharmony and achievement of a functional bite.

It is noteworthy to mention that a small percentage of patients with extreme facial disharmony may not be ideal candidates. For the majority though, the MEAW or GEAW functional orthodontics alone or in combination with dental restorations, physical therapy, and myofunctional therapy will deliver a reversal of the facial disharmony with little to no side effects, minimal skeletal relapse and similar treatment time compared to conventional braces. Best of all, because there is no jaw surgery involved, the cost of treatment is significantly reduced compared to having orthodontic treatment with jaw surgery.

The Human Face

Human facial morphology is the combination of genetic traits and expression of craniofacial complex adaptation and compensation to the environment. From all the twenty-two bones forming the face and the skull, the lower jaw (aka the mandible) is the only one without an innate growth capacity. For the mandible to grow, teeth have to erupt first pushing the mandible down and allow bone to be added above the condyle (most upper part of the mandible). At the same time, the muscles of the lips must rotate the mandible up closing the imminent open bite. When the lips are strong enough to rotate the mandible up, our dentition must be aligned in such a way that allows forward adaptation of the mandible. Because the mechanism of human facial growth is so complex and sensitive to the smallest environmental change, almost half of the human population regardless of the ethnicity and gender develops some degree of facial disharmony. And in about 20% of these individuals (roughly 10% of the population), the degree of the developed malocclusion would far exceed the treatment capacity of a conventional straight wire orthodontic technique and will likely be recommended for orthodontics in combination with jaw surgery.

Functional Orthodontic Technique Using MEAW and GEAW

Both the MEAW and the GEAW functional orthodontic technique may avoid jaw surgery by moving teeth beyond the limits of traditional orthodontics. The difference between these two is that they are made from different wire materials. The MEAW has 5 loops per side allowing a high degree of detailing and customization while the GEAW has only two loops per side providing extra comfort to the patient. For both, the loops between the teeth provide a higher deflection rate and flexibility compared to traditional straight wire permitting orthodontic teeth movements hard or impossible to accomplish using traditional straight wire technique. When strategic bends are added to the MEAW or GEAW in addition to elastics wear, the entire dentition with its alveolar bones experience a drastic change and the cranio-facial complex is able to gradually reverse the adaptation process that had caused the facial disharmony. Both, the MEAW and GEAW are manually bent and customized to fit on an individual dental arch.

Despite the fact that the MEAW and the GEAW are considered to be an extremely powerful orthodontic tool, it is only a tool. What drives the change is the understanding of the human cranio-facial anatomy and growth from an integrative and holistic perspective. From this view, the malocclusions are adaptative processes capable of affecting many distant parts of the human body beyond teeth and the surrounding craniofacial complex.

History of MEAW Orthodontic Technique and Functional Occlusion

The MEAW orthodontic technique was initially created by Professor Young Kim from Boston University during the late 1960s. Professor Sadao Sato from Kaganawa University School of Dentistry in Japan was introduced to the MEAW orthodontic technique in 1985 and he immediately combined his knowledge of cranio-facial growth to MEAW and envisioned the correction of not only open bites (how it was initially conceived) but also a wide range of facial disharmony and cranio-facial dysfunction. Professor Sato’s orthodontic treatment philosophy was deeply influenced by Professor Rudolf Slavicek’s (Vienna School of Dentistry, Austria) view of the human masticatory organ and functional dental occlusion. Since the mid 1980’s, Prof. Sato and Slavicek concentrated their efforts into proving the role of human dental occlusion in our overall health, the dynamic nature of human cranio-facial complex and the optimization of the functional orthodontic technique to consistently and reliably avoid jaw surgeries and provide definitive resolution to cranio-facial dysfunction and cervico-cranio-facial pain complaints.

At present, Professor Sato’s functional orthodontic paradigm shift reaches every continent with hundreds of orthodontists and dentists following his orthodontic-occlusal philosophy and thousands of happy patients who had avoided jaw surgery and alleviated their pain symptoms elevating their quality of life!

Whether you have an under-bite with a prominent chin, an over-bite with alimited chin, a deviated chin or an open-bite, oro-facial pain not alleviated through splint therapy, MEAW and GEAW functional orthodontic technique may help you achieve a functional bite with significant improvements of your facial aesthetics avoiding the need for jaw surgery!

Give us a call today to find out if you are a candidate for MEAW or GEAW non-surgical orthodontic technique!

Conventional Orthodontic Treatment

At E Line Orthodontics, we aim at achieving a functional bite! When a bite is functional, it synergies with the rest of the body! As a bonus, your smile will radiate symmetry and your jaw lines and chin prominence will be highlighted maximizing your genetic potential and natural beauty.

Whether you are a teenager, or an adult with a teenage heart, a functional bite will help you gain more than a beautiful smile!

Some key treatment distinction you will find at E Line Orthodontics:

  • We never extract bicuspids (regardless of your dental crowding).
  • We never reduce your teeth size width.
  • We always create space for restorations when teeth are undersized.
  • We do not use palatal expander or any functional appliances (as they produce non-physiological reaction to our body).
  • We do not use fixed retainers (as they interfere with physiologic bone bending)
  • We hand bend all our wires to create an individualized result
  • We will refer you to other integrative medicine practitioners if deemed necessary to improve your overall health

Did you know…

the American Association of Orthodontists endorses early childhood orthodontic treatments? The Association recommends an initial screening for every child no later than age 7. Because children this age have achieved approximately 80 percent of their total facial growth, a first phase of treatment during this time period can leverage remaining growth. By the time they reach age 11 or 12 (when the second phase of treatment is initiated), children have achieved more than 90 percent of their lifetime facial growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need two-phase orthodontic treatment?

The only way to know if your child needs orthodontic treatment of any kind is by visiting an orthodontist. Children as young as 4 can be screened, although the AAO recommends waiting no longer than age 7. If your child is over age 7 and has not yet been screened, make an appointment for a consultation at your earliest convenience.

What should I expect during a two-phase treatment?

Between the first and second treatment phases, you’ll need to bring your child to the orthodontist periodically to monitor progress and check the condition of your child’s retainer. He or she may also need occasional x-rays to ensure everything is progressing smoothly and as planned. Once your child has lost his or her final primary tooth, you’ll return yet again to get the second set of braces – usually around the age of 12.

Will I need to follow any special care instructions while my child is undergoing two-step orthodontic treatment?

Yes. Orthodontic appliances are designed for durability but can easily break when not cared for. You’ll need to ensure your child is following all directions for brushing around the braces and also exclude hard candies or foods that could damage the appliance components.

TMJ Treatment

tmj

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD)

TMJD or temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is one of the most misdiagnosed and controversial dental-medical condition that also carries a huge social impact, loss in productivity and high health care costs. Due to the multifactorial etiology and wide range of interpretation, it is common to observe that individuals seeking treatment for TMD complaints have visited several professionals without resolution or improvement of their complaints.

At E Line Orthodontics, we consider TMJ function and in a bigger extent the function of the masticatory organ as the most important foundation for not only dental but also overall health. From digital TMJ functional diagnosis, articulated models, bruxism checking appliance to a drastically different orthodontic treatment approach, we go above and beyond the traditional methodology. All functional and static data are placed together to better understand the reasons behind TMJ dysfunction and to tailor a comprehensive treatment plan that includes not only orthodontics but also other health care disciplines including but not limited to restorative dentistry, physical therapy, myofunctional therapy, sleep medicine, optometry and more.

We believe that a synergistic and a harmonious functional integration between the cranio-facial structures, the neck and the entire body is achieved when the masticatory organ is within symmetric balance and is able to function efficiently. Let us remember that our bite is a crucial part of the masticatory organ that influences the relationship between the jaws, between the jaw and the neck, between the neck and the clavicular region and more!

At E Line Orthodontics, we use MEAW (multiloop edgewise archwire) and GEAW (gum metal edgewise archwire) orthodontic technique that may move teeth beyond traditional braces and effectively reverse the adaptative and compensatory processes that had occurred through time negatively affecting your TMJ and its integrated structures. Following Prof. Rudolf Slavicek’s view regarding function “Life does not care about form. Life only cares about function.”  We aim at achieving masticatory organ function to create a functional bite and TMJ through a holistic and integrative orthodontic perspective and allied health disciplines.

Tooth Extractions

Tooth Extraction
Tooth extractions are routine dental procedures used to remove decayed, damaged or otherwise problematic teeth. Dentists usually make every effort to preserve natural teeth, although sometimes an extraction is necessary. Although the procedure is performed in a dentist’s or oral surgeon’s office, it is considered surgery. Depending on which teeth are removed, they may be replaced with a dental implant or another oral prosthetic.

There are several reasons why you could need a tooth extraction.

The most common cause of tooth extractions is severe tooth decay and cavities. However, many patients also undergo extractions for impacted teeth – particularly wisdom teeth. Other causes for extraction include advanced periodontal disease, cracked teeth, and teeth that are severely malformed. Although many circumstances that require extraction are unavoidable, some could be prevented with regular visits to the dentist for exams and cleanings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a tooth extraction?

Only your dentist can tell you if you need a tooth extraction. However, you may be a candidate for the procedure if one or more of your teeth are decayed so severely that a filling or others restoration is not a possibility for treatment.

What should I expect during my tooth extraction appointment?

If you and your dentist decide to extract one or more teeth, you will be scheduled to return for oral surgery at a later date. You will be given a local anesthetic to prevent pain during the procedure, and you may be prescribed medications to help manage pain in the hours following your extraction. Depending on the nature of your extraction and other factors, such as whether your teeth are impacted, you may also be sedated or given general anesthesia during your procedure.

What type of post-treatment care will I need to follow?

Post-operative care following a tooth extraction is essential for healing and preventing complications. You will be instructed to avoid certain foods and also keep the surgical site clean at all times. If you are prescribed an antibiotic, it is important that you complete the course of treatment to prevent infection. Finally, you may be advised to avoid smoking or drinking through a straw, as doing so may delay the healing process and cause a condition known as ‘dry socket.’

Skip to content