Open Bite - Tongue Thrust

If your child is in any stage of orthodontic treatment, this is a place to connect with other parents in your situation. Please note: this is a forum for adults only -- kids may not post here!

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IndigoBlue
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2018 9:40 pm

Open Bite - Tongue Thrust

#1 Post by IndigoBlue »

My six year old daughter has a tongue thrust which has caused an open bite. She is also a tongue sucker (yes, that's right, TONGUE sucker - NOT thumb sucker), though this had reduced significantly. She had issues with hypomineralisation/hypoplasia on her back molars and required stainless stell crowns. When the crowns were put on (December 2017) the bite opened up even more. The dentist/ortho are deciding what to do about that - but no decision will be made until her 6 year old molars have fully come through. She has been checked by an ENT.

There are no Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists where we live, however, I have been doing some swallowing exercises with her, tongue exercises and she has been using a myomunchee (both for chewing during the day and at night. Most nights she is able to keep it in her mouth but sometimes I do have to put it back in). Since I started this her open bite has reduced by 2mm (it is 3-4mm on one side and 1.5mm on the other side so still quite open though). Her tongue resting posture has improved a bit - especially when she knows I'm watching. However, it hasn't habituated. When I am not around, she sometimes reverts back to sitting it between her teeth.
We have seen two professionals in regards in what to do. Both suggested different options and I'm really not sure which way to go:

Option 1: Myobrace
Option 2: Wait for 6 yr old molars to fully erupt then place an appliance such as a tongue crib anchored to her 6 year old molars.

Here are my concerns about both options.

Myobrace - Apart from what is published on their own website, it is difficult to find information about its effectiveness. Why are most practitioners general dentists and not orthodontists? If it works so well, wouldn't orthodontists be using it?

Tongue crib: again, hard to find good studies about effectiveness. I have read that many children just simply push their tongue against the crib (instead of their teeth) and when the crib is removed, their tongue goes forward again against the teeth. Tongue spurs seem to have a better chance of working but I don;t know if they can be even used in young children (what if the child falls over for example and cuts their tongue?) and seem a bit barbaric.

I realise with both of these solutions that braces is still a possibility in future and I'm fine with that. I just want the most effective way to stop this tongue thrust for once and for all because I know if it is not corrected, the chance of relapse is extremely high.

Interested to hear what methods other parents have been advised to do and if they have been effective. Any advice or stories of personal experience welcome!! I'm open minded!

jfriend33
Posts: 263
Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2014 6:07 pm

Re: Open Bite - Tongue Thrust

#2 Post by jfriend33 »

Let me know what you'd like to know! Nip it in the bud now. Research orrhotropics more. Tads are good. Also they could use tongue Tamers, or something like a plain bracket bonded lingual to upper 1s and lower 2s.

YouTube has tons. There's also great slp's willing to meet online. You don't have to get a COM, a standard speech language pathologist would work in a pinch.

Read my thread if you want. First time in braces was told to use a elastic on tongue tip and nothing else. Was a failed try. This guy still practices and doesn't even implement mini screws or other proven methods.

Find a teaching program or ortho uni. Even if you spent a lot traveling you'd save tens of thousands on potential surgery plus wear and tear on molars.

My tmj headaches are totally gone now too. Please reach out here or via pm

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