Myofunctional & Airway Therapy
Preventive care that addresses the root cause, not just the teeth.
What Is Myobrace?
Most orthodontic problems don't start with crooked teeth. They start with how a child breathes, swallows, and holds their tongue. When those patterns are off, they can interfere with how the jaw develops, leading to crowding, bite issues, and airway concerns that only become more complex with age.
Myofunctional therapy and the Myobrace system take a different approach. Rather than waiting for all the permanent teeth to come in and then correcting the result, we address the underlying habits early, when the jaw is still growing and there's real opportunity to guide it.
This is exactly the kind of root-cause thinking that functional dentistry is built on.
When children breathe through their mouths or rest their tongue in the wrong position, it changes the forces acting on the developing jaw. Over time, that can mean a narrower arch, less room for permanent teeth, and a face that doesn't grow to its full potential. Myobrace supports the jaw in developing properly by correcting those habits — often reducing or eliminating the need for braces later.
Why This Matters Beyond the Smile
DMD, FAGD
At Midtown Dental Wellness, we look at the mouth as a window into whole-body health. Airway and breathing function are no exception.
Research suggests that chronic mouth breathing and poor airway development in children can be connected to disrupted sleep, difficulty concentrating, and changes in facial growth. Addressing these patterns early doesn't just support a healthier smile — it supports healthier development overall.
Myobrace fits naturally into our functional approach because it treats the reason a problem exists, not just what shows up on an X-ray.
How It Works
Habit Correction: Treatment begins by retraining the foundational habits: nasal breathing, proper lip posture, and correct tongue position. These are the habits that allow the jaw to grow the way it was designed to.
Arch Development:
As the jaw develops, the appliance supports the arch widening to create enough space for incoming permanent teeth, reducing crowding before it starts.
Dental Alignment:
As permanent teeth erupt, the focus shifts to guiding them into their natural position, often with minimal or no need for traditional braces.
Retention:
The final stage reinforces the healthy habits formed during treatment to ensure long-term stability. Because the result is driven by function, not just mechanics, the teeth are far less likely to shift back.
Is My Child a Candidate?
Myobrace is most effective when started early, ideally between ages 5 and 8, but can be appropriate up to age 15 depending on the child's stage of development. It may be a good fit if your child:
- Breathes through their mouth, especially during sleep
- Snores or has restless sleep
- Has crowded, crooked, or protruding teeth
- Has a narrow jaw or underdeveloped bite
- Thumb sucks or has other oral habits
A consultation is the best way to know for sure. We'll do a thorough evaluation and walk you through exactly what we're seeing — and whether Myobrace makes sense for your child.
Ready to learn more?
Schedule a consultation and we'll take a thorough look at your child's airway, jaw development, and oral habits; And give you a clear picture of what we're seeing and what we'd recommend.
Contact us
Your smile starts here. Fill out the form and we’ll take care of the rest.
Prefer to call? Contact us: 919-600-7227
FAQs
No. Myobrace is a removable appliance, not fixed braces. It works by retraining oral habits to guide healthy jaw development — rather than mechanically moving teeth after the fact.
Treatment length varies depending on the child's age, the severity of habits, and how consistently the appliance is worn. Most programs run one to two years.
No referral needed. You can schedule a consultation directly through our website or by calling the office.
Coverage varies by plan. Our team will help you understand your benefits before starting treatment.