Re: tongue thrust question

[Guest guest]

I haven't had a chance to look at the back-logged posts yet, so if

I'm repeating, apologies!

Tongue thrust is definitely a big concern when it comes to your

bite. It's one of the biggest causes of open bites in normally-

aligned people. Your tongue is one of the strongest muscles in your

body. The wire used in braces is " weak " enough for us to bend it by

hand, yet strong enough to move teeth... if you thrust your tongue,

spend thousands of dollars to repair your bite and your teeth, but

ignore your tongue, you will definitely see a relapse of one sort or

another and eventually an open bite.

My orthodontist wouldn't come anywhere near me with braces until I

started seeing a speech therapist for myofunctional therapy. The

tongue needs to be " retrained " to correct the thrust. Even if your

mandible was shortened, your tongue can be retrained to land on the

roof of your mouth rather than the back of your teeth. I had a

dental cleaning at school the other day - nobody related to my OD -

and he was very concerned about the potential relapse due to my

thrust until I told him my tongue was already in therapy for foul

play :-)

It's rather concerning that a surgeon would blow off the power of the

tongue...

Kate

> > > > > > I finally received approval from my insurance company and

> > have

> > > > > > scheduled the surgery on June 10th. Will be moving my

> upper

> > > and

> > > > > lower

> > > > > > jaw forward along with genioplasty on my chin. Hopefully

> > this

> > > > will

> > > > > > cure my sleep apnea which is the main reason I am doing

> this

> > > > > surgery.

> > > > > > Been reading all the posts for 2 months which has helped

> > > allot.

> > > > > Now

> > > > > > comes the tough part.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Steve

[Guest guest]

Kate,

First just let me say that my Surgeon hasn't " blown off " any concern

regarding the potential tongue thrust issues I may or may not have.

Having said that, his only advice was given to assure me that I

couldn't do any damage to the splint or break something in the wiring

(I'm wired shut for 8 weeks) by pushing against my teeth with my

tongue - while swallowing, yawning, coughing, etc. I was concerned

more about the size of the splint and the lack of room inside my

mouth. I'm sure that there was a bit of claustrophopia going on as I

asked him about it the day after having surgery.

My question to the group was based on something a doctor told me when

I was a child that I was reminded of when reading someone else's post.

I appreciate the information you've offered and will broach the

subject with my Surgeon on Monday during my next visit to find out if

he has any concerns and if some sort of speech therapy might be an

option or necessity for me at this point. Neither him nor my

Orthodontist has mentioned it over the last 3 years of working with

them. It may just be something I outgrew from adolescence and was

reminded of in my new situation of being wired.

Thanks again for your concern,

Carol

> > > > But , it really will be a fun summer.

> > > >

> > > > You will see big changes -- some you'll like, and some you'll

> be

> > > > eager to banish. But big things will be happening. I urge you

> to

> > > > extract the maximum joy from every big jump up! (Who woulda

> thunk

> > > > that getting a splint out after seven weeks could be an

> occasion

> > > for

> > > > major celebration? but it can, whether with the best

champagne

> or

> > > > the nicest bubbly Sprite. Honest!)

> > > >

> > > > Best,

> > > >

> > > > C.