  When the treatment is complete and appliances are no longer used, will the teeth crowd up again? |
Stability of treatment is monitored closely. Generally if the myofunctional problems are corrected, the teeth will stay in their position. However, if there is some unfavorable movement the child just resumes TRAINER™ /MYOBRACE® treatment for an extended period. |
| What happens if my child stops using the TRAINER™ each day and does not do the TRAINER™ activities? |
Stability of treatment is monitored closely. Generally if the myofunctional problems are corrected, the teeth will stay in their position. However, if there is some unfavorable movement the child just resumes TRAINER™ /MYOBRACE® treatment for an extended period. |
| Are there any statistics for the percentage of successful treatment cases with use of ONLY TRAINERS™ in comparision with treatment with any other appliances? |
This varies so much with the selected group and the malocclusion. Generally the 6-8 year old patients will be the most likely to have complete resolution of the malocclusion with T4K™ system only. Still probably only about 50% at most without severe problems will require no other treatment. All others will get benefits of less complex treatment, better facial development, no extractions and better stability. The main advantage of the TRAINER™ System is the correction of the soft tissues, which other appliance systems do not treat. |
| How much does it cost? |
An exact fee structure will be presented upon evaluation and consultation however, treatment fees will vary depending on the number of visits, the child’s compliance with the appliance and application to the activities and how quickly the child responds to the treatment. The information and education session is free of charge, however for an individual consultation, fees apply which vary with age and the treatment plan. Initial fees are to be paid at the appointment where the first appliances are fitted. Generally this fee includes all subsequent appliances required in the treatment except for braces if needed. The fee per visit is the only subsequent charge and is outlined in the treatment plan fee schedule. Replacement of lost appliances incurs an extra charge. By starting early with good compliance, the treatment generally costs less than fixed braces. |
| Are there any harmful side effects of the TRAINER™ System? |
There have been no reported harmful effects of the TRAINER System™. As it is a passive and a very flexible appliance that assists in retraining the musculature and mode of breathing, there is little possibility of doing harm. However the recommendation is always to review patients regularly and ensure the soft tissue improvements are progressing, there is no irritation and that the dental changes are being supported by the surrounding structures. |
| What is the indication that myofunctional bad habits have been corrected and the TRAINER™ treatment has been successful? |
The most important part of the myofunctional correction is that the lips are together at rest. So when the child is sitting down and not talking the lips should be together. When the child swallows there should be no perioral activity. For example, no mentalis contraction. Once this occurs, treatment is finished. |
| What are the contraindications for the TRAINER™ Sytem? |
There are only a few. Generally if you have a non-motivated patient, or an extreme malocclusion where the child cannot hold the TRAINER™ in their mouth. Also complete nasal obstruction. See the manual for full information. |
| What do I do if the TRAINER™ falls out of the child's mouth during the night? |
When first starting treatment, the TRAINER™ WILL fall out at night. The more a child has a mouth breathing and/or tongue thrusting problem, the more likely there will be problems with falling out. A child with no myofunctional problems will keep the TRAINER™ in at night easily. So this is the goal for the treatment. Increase daytime use if the night use is a problem. |
| Will treatment be painful for my child? |
No. During the first few days, there may be a small amount of sensitivity, however after these first few days of treatment, this sensitivity should cease. |
| How often does my child need to wear the appliance? |
The appliances must be worn daily for at least 1 hour per day plus overnight while sleeping. It is also important to assist the use of the appliances by doing certain tongue, mouth and breathing activities. These activities should be performed daily along with wearing your appliance. However, this is not limiting, any extra effort gives extraordinary results. |
| What if the child refuses to wear the appliance? |
The key to TRAINER™ success is the child’s compliance. This should be established at the first consultation visit with the parent being told the importance of correcting bad myofunctional habits. This is not an alternative form of orthodontics. It is a treatment for the soft tissue causes of malocclusion and poor facial growth. Therefore, the treatment is necessary for correct facial growth and stability of future orthodontic treatment. If the child refuses to wear the T4K™ (which is rare to start) this is a contraindication for treatment. If the parent is not motivated, this is another contraindication. |
| What is the best age to begin treatment? |
The optimum time to begin treatment is as the first permanent teeth appear around 5 years of age. Over 15 years of age is too late. |
| What other benefits might I see from using this treatment? |
Unlike traditional orthodontics, the MRC Clinics® goal is not just to have straight front teeth, but also to remove the bad influences on the child’s dental and facial development. As a result of better muscle function, children are able to develop better looking faces, and achieve their full genetic potential. Other health benefits of Myofunctional Orthodontics™ include improved posture, less allergies and fewer teeth, mouth and jaw (TMJ) problems. |
| Will it work for my child? |
Treatment through MRC Clinics® is a training process for your child, and like school or sport, daily commitment and persistence is required to obtain results. It also depends on the child’s inherent biology for change - therefore sometimes the results are rapid and other times it may take more perseverance. Old habits die hard, so the sooner the training program is implemented the better the growth benefits and the more permanent the result. |
| What causes these orthodontic problems? |
It is a common belief that crowded teeth, incorrect jaw development and other orthodontic problems are caused by either large teeth in small jaws, or other hereditary factors. Modern research has shown that mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, reverse swallowing and thumb sucking - known as incorrect myofunctional habits - are the real causes of incorrect jaw development. Allergies, asthma and an open mouth posture can also contribute towards the jaws developing incorrectly. Bottle feeding, thumb sucking, and dummies during the early stages of a child’s life can also contribute to the problem. |