Patient Stories Archives - Page 3 of 7 - Eggert Family Dentistry Blog

Sometimes the Results are Worth the Wait – M’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

M (name omitted by request) has been a loyal patient of Eggert Family Dentistry for nearly 20 years, since even before Dr. Elizabeth’s time. In 2013, M underwent jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic (or-thog-NATH-ik) surgery, which corrects irregularities of the jaw bones and realigns the jaws and teeth to improve the way they work.

In December 2015, during a recare visit, he mentioned that he had to force his muscles to bite correctly and wondered if that was normal after jaw surgery. He also noted that his teeth were jagged and did not have a clean line. He didn’t want to think about them all the time, like when eating or when looking at himself in photos.

At that time, M decided to undergo our records process to determine how lengthening his front teeth would help improve his bite. While M’s bite was improved after his orthodontics and jaw surgery, there had been enough prior damage to the teeth and the joints that M still had some bite imbalances after he healed from his surgery.

After working up M’s case, Dr. Elizabeth determined that with six upper veneers to lengthen his front teeth and some minor equilibration to even out high spots in his bite, M should feel better about both how his teeth fit together and with how they look.

What did M want?

M wanted to get rid of the gap he saw between his lateral and canine incisors and he wanted no chips on the front teeth. He wanted a whiter and brighter smile as well without all the white lines on his natural teeth.

What was involved?

Dr. Elizabeth started the case by mocking up the new shape of the teeth on dental models. M really liked the result. We started the treatment by evening out M’s bite with equilibration. Then, impressions of his new bite were taken and sent to the dental lab so a lab wax-up could be completed. This gave us the actual blue print for his new teeth. In the interim, M underwent the Zoom In-Office Whitening procedure to brighten his teeth to the desired color for his new veneers. Soon after the whitening procedure, M came for his preparation appointment and then 2 weeks later, his veneers were carefully inserted.

What does M think?

In his final interview, M was asked how he felt about his course of treatment and his decision to complete the veneers. He said, “I was concerned about it being painful or that there were going to be a lot of appointments to complete the treatment. While there were a lot of appointments, the time went quickly and it was painless.” He is very happy with the outcome and would recommend that anyone thinking of getting veneers to just get them done! He said it was easy to have an open dialogue with Dr. Elizabeth and it was great to have a solid plan along the way.

M did say that he hasn’t had many comments on his veneers, but he’s glad about that because he wanted everything to look very natural.

M’s story is just one of many others who have experienced magnificent results with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert. Veneers can yield beautiful and predictable results for accomplishing an improved smile. At Eggert Family Dentistry, we love providing “Dentistry for a Lifetime of Smiles” – thanks M for trusting us to help you continue to smile big and now more confidently!

CEREC and The Primescan Up Close – Ann’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

It is always ideal when your dental exam reveals no problems, but sometimes issues do arise. If your tooth has a large cavity, cracks, or is broken, Dr. Elizabeth or Dr. Jeff will likely recommend a crown to help restore the integrity of your tooth. A crown will reinforce the tooth and help keep it functioning for eating, smiling, and speaking.

Crowns have been around for decades and fortunately the materials and process for making crowns has continued to evolve and improve. Traditionally, getting a crown on your tooth involved two appointments. Currently, technology exists that allows us to make crowns in our dental office in one appointment. This offers a number of advantages, probably the biggest of which is convenience in coming to the office for only one appointment instead of two. Another advantage is the ability to take a digital impression with an intraoral scanner. This eliminates the need to take a traditional impression with putty material that sets up in your mouth. A crown in one day also means there is no need for a temporary crown. Temporaries are durable but do occasionally break or come loose, necessitating a visit to have a new temporary made or recemented. An additional remarkable feature of the “same-day crown” is the ability to replicate the shape and anatomy of an existing tooth or crown, which makes it easy for your new crown to fit well into your bite.

We have been using this technology with the CEREC system for many years and we recently upgraded our intraoral scanner to the Sirona Primescan, which makes taking digital impressions even faster and easier. Not every case can be completed in one visit, but many can, which most people find preferable. A recent patient, Ann, commented, “It is very convenient to get the crown fitted and designed in one visit versus having to come back!”

We want to share some photos with you of Ann’s case so you can see this technology in action. If one of your teeth ends up needing a crown, you can trust that our great team at Eggert Family Dentistry will take wonderful care of you too!

Call us today at 651-482-8412 to inquire about getting your next crown in one day!

Restoring Teeth with Implants: When Infections Cause the Need for Creativity. Judy’s Story.

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

Judy came to her regular 6-month recare appointment and mentioned that she thought one of her front teeth was turning darker. Joanna, our hygienist, noticed an issue right away as it looked as if Judy may be developing an infection near that upper front tooth. Joanna took an x-ray and Dr. Elizabeth did some tests and it was evident that Judy had lost a lot of bone near the roots of some upper front teeth. For an unknown reason (likely a trauma that occurred long ago), Judy’s teeth had started dying, creating an infection and bone loss. Dr. Elizabeth referred Judy to the root canal specialist and Dr. Aguirre confirmed the extent of the damage with a 3-D x-ray. Dr. Aguirre agreed that the lesion was excessively large. He was not confident that root canals alone could clear the infection so recommended that Judy work with an oral surgeon to remove the teeth, the infection, place a bone graft, and hopefully implant(s).

Because Judy didn’t remember any past trauma to her teeth and because of the extent of the bone loss could render all traditional treatment options unpredictable, Dr. Elizabeth recommended Judy undergo the records process to determine all her options going forward.

What did Judy want?

Judy wanted to be able to have front teeth and she wanted to be able to predictably clear her infection. She agreed to go through the records process to learn about her options and hopefully determine if her current bite could be part of the reason for the trauma that caused her infection. It was also important to Judy to be able to eat and speak normally after her teeth were restored. She met with Dr. Wade, an oral surgeon, who agreed that two teeth should come out. He was fairly confident that the infection was confined to only two teeth. He noted a large bone graft would be needed for Judy and implants would not be able to be placed until the graft was fully integrated. He recommended Judy have a temporary denture made to replace her teeth for awhile.

What was involved?

At the records appointment, Dr. Elizabeth took photos and x-rays of Judy’s teeth and did a thorough muscle and joint evaluation. She used the information gathered at that appointment to develop possible treatment options for Judy. It was evident after the bite analysis of the records process that Judy has an anterior open bite, which means that her upper and lower front teeth don’t meet up with each other. This concerned Dr. Elizabeth the most because it meant that Judy’s bite may not adjust well to change, but we knew Judy would undergo a change because of the infection. There was also a risk that her other two front teeth (or possibly more) could eventually become infected so any plan for Judy had to allow for flexibility in the future. Dr. Elizabeth presented Judy with multiple options, including implant-based options, a tooth-based bridge option, or a long-term removable partial denture. In the end, Judy’s treatment choice could have been limited by what would be discovered during surgery, but Judy wanted to restore the missing teeth with one implant that would hold two teeth (better for gum esthetics) and she wanted to repair her bite to make her upper and lower front teeth touch. This would help with long-term functionality and predictability.

Judy had 2 teeth extracted, the infection removed, and a large bone graft placed by Dr. Wade. Dr. Elizabeth had a temporary partial denture ready to insert after surgery. In addition, Dr. Elizabeth built up the edges of Judy’s other front teeth to mimic what her final restorations would look like.

Once the bone graft was integrated, Dr. Wade went back for another surgery to place an implant for Judy. One implant was placed that would eventually hold and replace two teeth. After three additional months of healing, Dr. Wade placed a customized healing abutment to help shape the tissue for the eventual tooth restorations. Judy continued to wear her temporary partial denture during this time. Dr. Elizabeth also wanted to influence the tissue at the site for her “other tooth” so she built up Judy’s temporary partial denture to put pressure on the tissue and shape it so it would eventually look like a tooth is emerging from the tissue.

During the healing time, Judy also decided she wanted to lighten the color of her teeth so she underwent the Zoom bleaching procedure and improved her shade to 5 times brighter! Finally, Judy did the final planning with Dr. Elizabeth, completing a lab wax-up, like a blue print, for her future restorations. When the surgeon gave the “all-clear,” Dr. Elizabeth prepared Judy’s remaining upper front teeth and got impressions of the implant site so 5 restorations could be fabricated for her 6 front teeth.

What does Judy think?

Judy had a long treatment process. She notes she learned a lot as a lot went into the decision making. Judy notes “I didn’t have a choice, it was something that had to be done. It was interesting to learn more about my bite and what it would mean to have longer teeth in the end.”

Judy notes she thinks her teeth look “very nice” and is happy to be done with everything. “It was a bigger procedure than I expected, but it turned out nice in the end!”

We’re so grateful to have you as a patient, Judy – thank you for putting your trust in us! It was a pleasure to be able to use our creative thinking skills to help you through this interesting case.

Fixing a Fractured Front Tooth – Tim’s story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

Tim broke his front tooth while playing football at the community center on the weekend. His father called our office emergency line and described what had happened. It sounded like the tooth was still in his mouth, but a large portion of it was broken off. Dr. Elizabeth asked Tim’s father to put the fragments they could find in some water and meet her at our office. She was able to meet Tim and his father within an hour to assess and address the situation.

What was involved?

Upon examination it was noted 2/3 of Tim’s natural tooth was broken off. The tooth was slightly mobile, but there was minimal bleeding. He was having minimal pain, except when the tooth touched cold water or air, and there were not any cuts in his mouth or face. Although the fracture was substantial, it luckily did not go into the nerve of the tooth.

The fractured part was in 3 pieces, but using her dental skills, Dr. Elizabeth was able to piece them back together like a jigsaw puzzle. Using filling material, she was able to bond the pieces back together, making it look almost as if the tooth had never been broken.

It was recommended that Tim take ibuprofen for the first few days to reduce any inflammation inside the tooth and the tissues surrounding it. He was also instructed to have a softer diet for a few weeks and to not use that tooth for biting into things.

As you can see from the after photos, the tooth pieces fit back together extremely well. The tooth does naturally stick out slightly, which could have contributed to it fracturing when it was hit. Tim has been following up with an orthodontist to develop a plan to move the teeth into a more ideal position and therefore keep them safer from potential future trauma.

After a trauma like this, it is important to follow the tooth over time. Depending on the injury it is typical to reevaluate the tooth over a period of weeks and months to make sure that complications aren’t developing. Even though the tooth nerve didn’t seem to be irreversibly damaged after the accident, it can sometimes deteriorate over time and eventually need a root canal.

It has been over 2 years since Tim’s accident and his tooth is still doing well. Because of how large the fracture was, the repair won’t last forever, and the tooth will likely need to be repaired again, probably multiple times, during Tim’s life with more filling material or even a crown or an implant. However, the longer the initial repair lasts, the better it will be for the tooth long term.

Tim and his dad were very appreciative of how quickly he was able to get in right when this trauma occurred and get it repaired. Great job by them remaining calm and gathering all the pieces, and great job by Dr. Elizabeth putting them back together again.

Identical Twin Expansion: Zack and Ryan’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

When Did this Start?

Zack and Ryan are identical twins and started seeing Dr. Elizabeth for their dental care in August 2019 at age 9. During their first examination, Dr. Elizabeth noticed that their maxillary arches were narrow and that both boys exhibited some acid erosion on their teeth. Acid erosion is a classic sign of a possible airway problem. When a narrow arch is present, the airway is more constricted. Zack and Ryan both had their tonsils and adenoids out at age 5 due to snoring and recurrent strep and tonsillitis. Since having their tonsils out, their snoring decreased and they both were sleeping better but Dr. Elizabeth knew she could help make things better for their airway and their bite by referring both boys to an orthodontist for a consult for dental expansion. It is important to note that the ideal time for expansion is before the bone and cartilage at the roof of the mouth solidifies and hardens. This usually happens around puberty.

What Was Involved?

Zack and Ryan went to Dr. Wahl’s orthodontic office in New Brighton (Village Orthodontics) for an orthodontic consultation in June, 2020. Dr. Wahl agreed with Dr. Elizabeth’s assessment and proposed palatal expander treatment. An expander is a metal device that is placed on the roof of the mouth and connects to the upper back teeth. In the middle of the expander there is a hole that allows for a metal key to be placed. Zack and Ryan would have their mom turn the key once a day in the beginning of their expansion. Dr. Wahl checked their expansion progression on a monthly basis and decided how often their expander needed to be turned. Zack and Ryan’s expansion process lasted from June to December, 2020.

In the beginning of their treatment, both boys complained of soreness while the expansion was in progress. Children’s Tylenol was successful in easing their discomfort. After the turning process was over, the boys still had the expander on the roof of their mouth, but no longer needed to have the key turned. They were in a holding pattern for a few months. They could tell that the shape of their arches had changed from a narrow square-shaped arch to a widened U-shaped arch. Zack and Ryan had their expanders removed December, 2020 and had retainers made to hold the space that was created. They will still need braces in a couple of years for Phase 2 of their orthodontic treatment when all of their permanent teeth are erupted.

What Do Zack and Ryan Think?

Dental expansion for Zack and Ryan was successful! Dr. Wahl was able to widen their upper arches in a short period of time. At their periodic exam with Dr. Elizabeth, she checked the width of their maxillary arch with a cotton roll. With successful expansion, the upper arch should be able to fit the length of the cotton roll. They both passed the test. Zack and Ryan’s mom stated that they wake up more well rested than before expansion – a clear sign that they must be sleeping better due to increased airway space. Both boys agree that the expansion treatment was worth the small amount of discomfort they experienced. Expansion not only improved their airway but also set them up for successful phase 2 orthodontic treatment. Zack and Ryan are both excited for braces to begin soon!

Zack during retention phase, note there is room
for his permanent teeth to erupt!

Ryan during retention phase, note there is room
for his permanent teeth to erupt!

How Even Limited Treatment Can Have a Big Impact – Gloria’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

Gloria has been a patient of Dr. Elizabeth Eggert for over 15 years. She loves to smile and is the kind of person with a spectacular “twinkle in her eye!” Recently, at one of her recare visits, she wanted to talk about her overlapping teeth. She noticed that a large filling she had on one of her front teeth was loose. She wondered if it had come loose because it was at such an angle? She and Dr. Elizabeth talked about how the angulation of her right front tooth and the crowding of her lower front teeth, caused all her anterior teeth to work against each other in an unharmonious manner when she eats and talks. The existing filling was very large and was at the limit of how composite filling material can work when subjected to such heavy forces.

She and Dr. Elizabeth talked about moving to a stronger restorative material, like porcelain, and how if she was willing to work on changing both of her front teeth, the angulation could be improved to create the illusion of straighter teeth.

What was involved?

Gloria was interested in sticking to only working on the two front teeth. She understood that she had other options like orthodontics to move her teeth, but she figured doing only two full coverage porcelain crowns could help improve her smile enough for her satisfaction and could be done much more quickly than undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Gloria’s two front teeth were prepared for full coverage crowns. Dr. Elizabeth worked through a mock-up with her before hand to discuss her midline (center line between the two teeth), tooth size, shape, and symmetry. Gloria was so happy with the temporary crowns based on her mock-up, she commented “if the temporaries feel and look this great, I am so excited to see how the final crowns will be.”

After the two weeks it took to get her crowns back from the dental laboratory, Gloria’s crowns were tried in her mouth. Before cementing the crowns, Gloria looked in the mirror and with an enormous smile, exclaimed, “I like these a lot. The color is perfect and they look really good on me.”

What does Gloria think?

In her final interview, Gloria was asked how she had made the decision to crown her two front teeth? She responded, “My front tooth, the right one, had a huge filling that was too big to stay put. Dr. Elizabeth helped me understand better options for that tooth. After thinking it over, I knew that my other front tooth, the left one, would eventually need a crown too, so having them done at the same time AND being able to change how crowded they looked really appealed to me. It really sounded like a great idea. I was also excited that the color could be evened out with my other teeth. I always thought that right front tooth looked too dark.”

Overall, Gloria is really happy about the outcome of her treatment and would recommend to others considering this procedure to “just do it.” “It was such a successful treatment for me, and I would love for others to experience such great results.”

One thing Gloria would like to pass along about getting crowns done with Eggert Family Dentistry is “Don’t worry about it, trust the process and Dr. Eggert because the results are wonderful.”

Gloria’s story is just one of many others who have also experienced magnificent results with Dr. Eggert. Crowns can yield beautiful and predictable results for accomplishing an improved smile. At Eggert Family Dentistry, we love providing Dentistry for a Lifetime of Smiles – thanks Gloria for trusting us to help you continue to smile big and confidently!

Fixing a Chipped Front Tooth – LK’s story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

Patient LK (this patient asked that we only use her initials) started her anterior restoration treatment with us after she chipped a filling out of one of her front teeth. LK had previously chipped this same filling, mostly because of how her bite comes together, and she was looking for a more permanent option. She also did not like the black triangles that were visible between her teeth when she smiled.

What was involved?

Upon examination it was noted that LK’s teeth had worn significantly at the edges which made her teeth look shorter. It was recommended that she undergo the records process to determine ideal treatment and what potential alternatives she had.

Through the records process with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert, LK’s treatment plan was developed. The records process involves an evaluation of muscles, jaw function, teeth, and their relationships with each other. Photos are taken of the mouth to help in visualizing how everything fits together and moves. Impressions are also made in order to create a 3D modeling of the patient’s teeth.

Through the analysis of the records process, it was recommended that LK consider doing orthodontic treatment in order to move teeth into a more functional position and prevent further breakdown of her teeth and potential restorations. It was also recommended that LK veneer her eight front teeth. Four on the upper arch and four on the lower arch. The analysis showed that the reason LK’s filling kept coming out was because her teeth are hitting too heavy against each other. The orthodontic tooth movement and 8 veneers would be able to create better functional harmony as well as redesign the teeth to correct the wear that had occurred.

What did LK want?

During the consult appointment, LK noted that she was not interested in orthodontic treatment and she planned to veneer only her two front anterior teeth. LK was willing to take the risk that her new restorations may not last long-term due the disharmony in her currently functioning system. Since LK would not be doing orthodontics, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert let her know that using a splint to protect her new veneers would be critical in order to improve our chances for success.

LK was concerned that it would be hard to get a good color match but when she saw our assortment of colors she was less concerned. LK thought about bleaching her teeth, but was worried they would be sensitive. She had tried over-the-counter products in the past, but had sensitivity issues. After reviewing her bleaching options, LK decided she would match her new veneers to her current color so she would not have to maintain the color long-term. Dr. Elizabeth was able to improve the esthetics of LK’s front teeth by restoring them to their original size and appearance. LK was very pleased with the result and stated, “It was like Christmas!” Thanks for putting your trust in us LK, it is always a pleasure working with you!

A Full Mouth Reconstruction – Mike’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How Did this Start?

Mike had been a long-term patient of Dr. Furey when Dr. Elizabeth took over his care in 2016. Up to that point, Mike had talked with Dr. Furey about the need to restore his mouth due to the severe erosion that was occurring throughout. Starting in 2016, his canines were starting to decay in addition to the erosion weakening the tooth structure. Mike was also starting to have pain on a lower left tooth due to an infection in his tooth. Mike’s case had a lot involved because we were not only dealing with erosion, but his bite and jaw anatomy have likely been contributing to the erosion on his teeth. This meant that the most predictable way to restore him back to health would involve jaw surgery and restoring all his teeth.

Mike had long been functioning with a deep bite meaning that his tongue and airway were working with space restrictions. It is thought that oftentimes deep bites will increase acid production in the mouth and be a source for erosion. Mike had previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea and had been using a CPAP machine for many years. Sleep apnea is often caused, at least in part, by a restricted airway.

What Did Mike Want?

Mike stated his goals for his teeth were “that they work and I don’t lose them.” He was noticing jagged edges and that his upper canines were especially worn. He thought the wear was due to the fact that he caught himself grinding his teeth during the day and night. He didn’t realize that the erosion may be part of a larger whole health issue. Mike had many options to consider and while he understood that jaw surgery may be the best way to improve his overall airway, in the end he decided against surgery. This meant that Mike needed to open up his deep bite and complete restorations on all of his teeth.

What Was Involved?

In order to open up Mike’s bite, a laboratory wax-up was completed. This helped create a “blueprint” of how the teeth would look with the new restorations. After Mike approved the wax-up, he started by getting his infected tooth extracted. This allowed some time for healing before an implant was placed in that same area. Mike’s progress was slowed up somewhat due to complications he had with his heart and having to undergo surgery, as well as the COVID shut-down, however, after 4 years, Mike was finally on his way to protecting his teeth with new restorations.

All of his teeth were worked on and prepared for crowns or veneers. Mike underwent preparations of the upper teeth one day and of the lower teeth another day. He spent time in temporary crowns and had to start getting used to his new bite. At first, he said “it feels kind of like a mouth full of marbles.” But, then as his muscle adjusted, he thought his bite felt good.

What Does Mike Think?

Before he started his treatment Mike stated he was “apprehensive about it.” The work in general made him apprehensive. It was a big decision, but he understood that his teeth were at severe risk if nothing was done. He did not want to “lose all those teeth.” Mike reports now he is “very happy with the results and I like them a lot!” He likes having the smooth surfaces of his new crowns rather than the rough, sharp edges from the erosive wear pattern on his natural teeth. He admits that he wishes he would have done the work sooner and that it hadn’t taken him so long to make a decision. If talking to someone considering getting this type of treatment done, he would tell them to “do it sooner than later. Be patient and follow the recommendations given by Dr. Elizabeth.”

Mike’s final results are an improvement in that he doesn’t have such a deep and restricted bite and the enamel that was eroded away has been replaced by strong porcelain. Unfortunately, without undergoing jaw surgery, Mike’s teeth will still be at risk due to jaw movements Mike makes to keep his airway more patent. Mike will still have to maintain his treatments for sleep apnea and he will likely still have dental work to do in the future should his teeth break down the road. Mike’s case is a good example of why we like to take time with kids and teenagers, making sure they are developing adequate room in the mouth for a good airway and skeletal structures, trying to prevent compromise before it occurs!

Journey to a Confident Smile – Lia’s Story Continued

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Lia’s story started with us a few years ago when she replaced a congenitally missing tooth. She knew that was just the beginning of her journey and she had years of multiple treatments ahead.

Lia before

We are happy to show you the final results as we take you through Lia’s story once again!

Lia After

Lia was a beautiful 16 year old when her journey started. Dr. Elizabeth bonded composite where tooth #7 was missing. Lia decided to replace the missing tooth with composite until her skeletal growth was complete and was ready for a more permanent solution. Lia recently had an implant placed at the site where her composite bonding was. Knowing the implant was a more permanent solution, and Lia now entering her college years, she took this opportunity to brighten her smile like she always wanted to do.

Lia After

In Lia’s case, we chose to create her beautiful smile by adding 3 veneers to match her new implant crown. Lia always wanted a big, confident smile. She now has a smile she loves to show off!

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder – Lizzie’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

How did this start?

Lizzie’s parents are longtime patients of Dr. Elizabeth and brought Lizzie in for her first visit when she was a year old. As Lizzie grew older, Dr. Elizabeth began to notice signs of what she suspected to be Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder. Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD) is a disorder characterized by improper tongue, jaw, and lip positioning during swallowing, feeding, and speaking.
Patients with OMD often have signs like malocclusion, mouth-breathing, tongue thrust, and airway obstruction. They may also have symptoms like headaches, malaise, fatigue, anxiety/depression, and pain. Dr. Elizabeth noticed that Lizzie was developing an open bite and had a non-tongue based swallowing pattern (she often uses her lips and teeth for swallowing). Dr. Elizabeth talked with the parents about helping to remind Lizzie to put her tongue up to the roof of her mouth to swallow and to keep her lip and teeth away from each other when swallowing. As Lizzie got older, it was still difficult for her to swallow with her tongue up. Dr. Elizabeth recommended that she start Myobrace® treatment and myofunctional therapy to address her symptoms.

Figure 1: Lizzie’s open bite: her tongue sits forward. She is developing a narrow upper arch.

What was involved?

Lizzie’s Myobrace® treatment will involve moving through a series of oral appliances that each function to address different aspects of OMDs, including habit correction, arch development, and dental alignment. Before starting her Myobrace® treatment, Lizzie came in for a short appointment with Dr. Elizabeth to take initial photos and learn how to wear her appliance. Dr. Elizabeth talked with Lizzie about the importance of wearing her appliance every night while she sleeps and for at least two hours each day. In addition to wearing the Myobrace® appliance, Lizzie has undergone myofunctional therapy with us to further correct some of the habits contributing to her OMD. During these sessions, which we offer both in-office and via Zoom, our hygienist Lea showed Lizzie different exercises to help her retrain her orofacial muscles so she can achieve a normal resting position for her tongue, lips, and jaw.

What have Lizzie’s results been?

Lizzie is still in the early stages of her treatment. She has been striving to keep her Myobrace® in at night and has been working through myofunctional exercises. She feels that her nose breathing is improving and is confident she will continue to put forth the effort for her treatment. Oftentimes, Myobrace® therapy takes many months or even years. The theory is that the slow training and continuous practice of positioning the muscles allows the facial structures to develop naturally and stay that way. We are excited to see where Lizzie will go through this journey with us.