MEDICAL ORTHODONTICS AND THE TREATMENT OF EAR, NOSE AND THROAT PROBLEMS
The mouth is strategically located between the throat and the nose and the jaw joint is very close to the ears. Hence, it is easy to understand why dental and bite problems can have such an impact on those structures.
Airway obstructions, chronic sinusitis and hearing loss are common ear, nose and throat problems that are often associated with bite problems and can greatly improve with the help of orthodontics.
BITE PROBLEMS AND AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION
Bite and jaw problems can partially block the airway, making breathing difficult. Airway obstruction can lead to sore throat, snoring, mouth breathing, fatigue, sleep apnea and sinusitis, among other complications.
In children, mouth breathing can cause problems in the development of the jaws and the face, potentially leading to bite problems. Orthodontic treatment can play a crucial role in correcting mouth breathing in kids as early as possible to prevent further complications.
In adults with a bad bite, there is often a lack of space for the tongue (especially when the dental arches are narrow). In this case, the tongue is placed further back and blocks the airway. Often this leads to obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder that increases the risk for heart problems. Narrow arches means that the nasal cavity is also constricted, limiting nasal breathing and leading to mouth breathing. This situation is far from ideal and increases the risk for oral and general problems in the body, including chornic sinusitis.
Through orthodontics, more space can be created in the mouth to decrease the obstruction of the airways, improve the nasal space and nose breathing. This leads to better breathing and sleep, increased energy levels and concentration and general well-being.
BITE PROBLEMS, TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT AND HEARING LOSS
Hearing loss happens when the conduction of sound waves is disturbed in the outer or inner ear. The ears and the jaw joint are very close to each other, thus, a condition in one can affect the other. Problems in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ or jaw joint) can aggravate hearing loss and other problems in the ears.
When there is a bad bite, the chewing muscles are constantly tense, leading to stress in the jaw joint and its ligaments. This can cause misplacement of the disc inside the joint and compression of the nerves, leading to crimping of the middle ear, blockage and conductive hearing loss.
Orthodontic treatment can successfully realign teeth and jaws to correct a bad bite and alleviate the pressure and tension in the ligaments, muscles and nerves, thus improving the function of the TMJ. This opens the ears and improves hearing.
CLEAR ALIGNER THERAPY TO CORRECT MEDICAL PROBLEMS IN THE EARS, NOSE AND THROAT
Technology has evolved to allow for correction of bite and jaw problems with plastic aligners, as opposed to the old-fashioned traditional braces. The advantages of clear aligners are many; perhaps the most striking is the fact that they are removable and are barely noticed.
The process is simple: after a digital impression of teeth and jaw bones, the whole treatment can be visualized in the computer, allowing visualization of how the end-result.
The aligners are 3D printed and replaced after a few weeks, causing slow and subtle movement of teeth. Not only the bite is balanced, but the smile is also optimized.
Talk to your orthodontist today about the benefits of clear aligner therapy for the treatment of ear, nose and throat problems related to a bad bite.