Two Day Course

Myofunctional Influences On Facial Growth And The Dentition.

A Complete Approach To The Early Treatment Of Malocclusion.

This course is a combination of eight hours of lectures and four hours of hands on workshops over two days. The course focuses on the aetiology of malocclusions and how to correct the cause. It is appropriate for orthodontists and general dentists who have an interest in orthodontic treatment. All doctors are asked to bring at least one set of models with them. If they have before and after models and photos of any case that would be good but not essential.

Before treating a malocclusion we need to look at the aetiology of the disorder and correct the cause as well as the result of the problem. Tooth position; jaw shape and size; jaw relationship and facial appearance are under the influence of muscle and postural patterns.

To consider the aetiology of the malocclusion we need to look at:

• The shape of the mandible, maxillae and palatine bones.
• The effect of breathing patterns, swallowing, chewing, talking on the dentition.

The balance of the entire skeletal system:

• There is no distortion in one part of the body that is not reflected throughout the body.
• I use video images to show the moving dynamic nature of the structures we are dealing with.
• We look at soft tissue patterns of the face in detail and see what muscle patterns are related to particular malocclusions.
• We look in detail at how to correct the soft tissues in the growing child using Myofunctional Appliances.
• I demonstrate that it is possible reliably and consistently to change muscle and breathing patterns in growing children.
• When we do change muscle patterns in growing children we can record improvements in arch form, arch size, jaw relationship and facial appearance.
• We look at models, that I would like the doctors to bring with them, and analyse the models from a muscular and postural standpoint.
• We will do a workshop on the Breathing Well Programme that we use to help growing children establish nasal breathing.
• In the permanent dentition we can also make improvements in the muscle patterns. Improvement in muscle patterns alone is often not enough to get the teeth into full alignment.
• I will show how to use Myofunctional Appliances in the permanent dentition in addition to fixed appliances.
• We will look at the temperomandibular joint in detail.
• We will do a hands-on workshop on TMJ diagnosis looking at functional postural and structural patterns in the cranium.
• We will discuss the treatment of TMJ dysfunction in the short and long term.
• We will do a workshop looking at postural patterns in the body and show how they relate to malocclusions.
• I will share with you my experience in introducing appropriate fees for the diagnosis and treatment of malocclusions using prefabricated Myofunctional Appliances. I will share my experience in how to obtain the best cooperation from the patients.

What You Will Learn

• How to diagnose and treat Myofunctional Dysfunction in all your patients.
• How to treat myofunctional patterns in the permanent and mixed dentitions.
• How to analyse study models and facial photographs for the cause of malocclusion.
• How to diagnose and give immediate relief of pain to patients with TMJ dysfunction.
• How to introduce a Breathing Well Programme into your own practice.
• How to incorporate Myofunctional Treatment into your existing orthodontic or general practice.