Advanced Dental Procedures
Mid Bay Dental is committed to your total oral health. Dr. Chase has years of continuing education to ensure our practice is always on the leading edge of dental technology.
For our patients with extensive tooth decay or cracked, broken, or missing teeth, we offer consultations to determine the best treatment plan for you.
Mid Bay Dental specializes in advanced dental procedures to restore your smile and oral health. Dr. Justine Chase will go over each recommended procedure and answer any questions you may have. When your treatment is complete, we will educate you on how to properly care for your teeth to help keep them healthy and beautiful for a long time to come.
Understanding Tongue Tie
Medically known as ankyloglossia, tongue tie is a condition where the tongue’s movement is restricted due to an unusually tight or short lingual frenulum. This condition can affect children and adults, leading to various oral health and functional issues.
Tongue tie treatment in Niceville has been made easy at Mid Bay Dental- We offer comprehensive tongue tie treatment, including Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, to help individuals of all ages overcome the challenges associated with tongue tie. Tongue tie occurs when the thin membrane (frenulum) that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too short or tight. This restriction affects the tongue’s ability to move freely, impacting essential functions such as speaking, swallowing, and proper oral posture.
Understanding Airway Dysfunction
The upper airway comprises the nasal passages, mouth, throat, and associated structures. When there is a restriction or obstruction in this pathway, it can lead to various health issues. Common causes of airway dysfunction include narrow nasal passages, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, deviated septum, and improper oral posture. Airway treatment focuses on identifying and addressing issues related to the upper airway, which is vital to our overall health and well-being. A compromised airway can lead to various health problems, including sleep apnea, and harm oral health.
At Mid Bay Dental, sleep apnea treatment is one of the most effective approaches for airway treatment in Niceville. This treatment aims to improve breathing during sleep and restore airway function. It often involves oral appliances, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and lifestyle modifications. By addressing airway dysfunction and sleep apnea, we aim to restore healthy breathing patterns, improve sleep quality, enhance overall health, and promote optimal oral health.
Oral Procedures
Among the more advanced dental care procedures Dr. Chase performs are:
- Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) is a disorder of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth that may affect chewing, swallowing, speech, oral hygiene, and a slew of other normal functions. A typical OMD involves an abnormal bite due to the improper alignment between the upper and lower teeth. It is known as malocclusion and can lead to problems in chewing, swallowing, and the digestion of food.
Myofunctional therapy consists of a regular program of simple and painless exercises designed to activate and use some muscles to correct improper muscle patterns and enable proper coordination of the tongue and facial muscles. If you choose to get myofunctional therapy in Niceville at our dental office, you can expect the best results you have hoped for. Suppose you or your child is struggling with tongue ties. In that case, our dedicated team is here to offer tongue tie treatment in Niceville and take the first step towards empowering smiles and unlocking the full potential of oral function.
How Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Works
- Comprehensive Evaluation
At Mid Bay Dental, Tongue tie treatment in Niceville starts with conducting a thorough evaluation of the tongue’s mobility, swallowing patterns, and overall oral function to determine the severity of the tongue tie and any related issues.
- Customized Treatment Plan
We create an individualized treatment plan tailored to each patient’s specific needs and goals based on the evaluation results. The treatment plan may include exercises, stretches, and therapeutic techniques.
- Correcting Oral Posture
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy focuses on correcting improper tongue posture and restoring nasal breathing. Patients learn to position their tongues correctly against the palate, facilitating proper facial growth and dental alignment.
- Collaborative Approach
Our team works closely with other healthcare professionals, including dentists, orthodontists, and speech therapists, to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care for optimal outcomes.
Sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder in which you stop breathing periodically throughout the night due to physical obstruction of the airway. The muscles in your mouth and throat relax during sleep to the point that soft fatty tissues fall back into the upper airway and block the flow of incoming oxygen. One option in the treatment of sleep apnea is the use of a continuous positive airway (CPAP) device, which delivers a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask into your respiratory system. However, this therapy can result in dry nasal passages, skin irritation from masks, difficulty tolerating the pressurized air, or feelings of claustrophobia.
A better option for sleep apnea is an oral dental appliance for sleep apnea. There are two types: adjustable mandibular advancement devices (MADs) and tongue-retaining mouthpieces. MADs work by pushing the lower jaw and tongue slightly forward, thereby, helping prevent throat muscles from collapsing back into the airways, while allowing for normal breathing. Tongue-retaining mouthpieces have a small compartment that fits around the tongue using suction to keep it held forward, preventing it from collapsing back into your airway.
For the treatment of sleep apnea in Niceville, we have the required tools & cutting-edge technology available at our dental office to provide instant relief.
Advanced dental care procedures such as these require advanced diagnostic tools. That’s why Mid Bay Dental is equipped with these cutting-edge, on-site technologies:
Q: WHAT EXACTLY IS A TONGUE TIE?
The lingual frenulum is a small fold of mucous membrane that extends from the floor of the mouth to the midline of the underside of the tongue. Find your own lingual frenulum by looking in the mirror, opening you mouth, and stretching your tongue towards the palate. See the whitish cord beneath your tongue? Ankyloglossia or tongue tie, is simply a lingual frenulum that is tight enough to restrict the movement of the tongue. It is a congenital oral anomaly caused by an unusually thick, or unusually short, lingual frenulum.
Q: CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE TREATMENT FOR A BABY THAT IS TONGUE TIED? DOES IT HURT?
Q: IF A TONGUE TIE IS LEFT UNTREATED, CAN IT HAVE ANY EFFECT INTO CHILDHOOD AND ADULTHOOD?
Q: WHAT TYPES OF BREASTFEEDING ISSUES MAY MOTHERS OF TONGUE TIED BABIES EXPERIENCE?
Q: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
Breastfeeding is encouraged immediately following the procedure, however typically there is a healing period that your infant must undergo before the full benefits are realized. I teach each mother proper active wound management and daily stretching exercises in order to facilitate healing. As explained in another post, I cannot stress enough the importance of continued lactation support following the frenectomy procedure. Post-treatment follow up is just as important as pre-treatment care.
I send a detailed report of my assessment and/or procedure to the lactation consultant and stay up to date with baby’s progress after our 4-day follow up. Baby will continue to build strength over the healing period and will require further guidance on developing positive breastfeeding habits.
It is not only the tongue and jaw that prove to be key components in breastfeeding but in fact, the whole body. For this reason, tongue tied babies often have additional structural stressors to be addressed and I will recommend taking baby to see a bodyworker, a licensed professional such as an occupational, craniosacral or physical therapist. Bodywork encourages body awareness and encourages an infant to express postural reflexes and explore natural movement inclinations through the nervous system. After a tongue tie release, the infant’s tongue will need to adapt to a new and profound range of motion.
Myofunctional Therapy and Tongue Tie Release In Children and Adults
BENEFITS OF EARLY EXAMINATION, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT:
- Removes harmful factors influencing growth
- Excellent ages for growth guidance and restoring normal growth
- Assist in improving the psychological well-being of the child
- Saves some patients from future jaw surgery
- Can assist in building better bites and smiles – preventing crowded/crooked teeth
Blocked airways and poor tongue posture can trigger excess adrenaline. Many studies have shown compromised airways and improper breathing as a contributing factor to ADHD in children. Many serious sleep issues can be attributed to poorly formed airways
Our team prides ourselves on precision diagnosis and treatment of airway issues. We check for proper development of the jaw and harmony of the face. We also screen for breathing and oral habits which may over time, result in abnormal dentofacial development. By working with the natural growth instead of against it, we can prevent problems from beginning, or becoming worse, and give your child a lifetime of healthy smiles and deep breathing!
If your child is tired all the time as a result of interrupted sleep related to the nasal blockage which typically worsens at night, give us a call to schedule a consultation. It’s never too late to start breathing right.
Advanced Dentistry in Bluewater Bay
If you need advanced dental work, you can trust the expertise of Dr. Chase at Mid Bay Dental. We only recommend restorative treatments that are in your best interest. Call (850) 897-4200 for a consultation today.
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