MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY: A TOOL FOR PROPER OCCLUSION MANAGEMENT AT DEVELOPING DENTITION

The individual growth and development, the most diverse complex and challenging natural phenomenon, depends on dynamic balance of the hard and soft tissue of the craniofacial complex and dentoalveolar structures. Although 90% of skeletal growth of the face occurs before the age of 8 years, growth continues in various forms and bone remodeling responded to functional influences over the entire lifespan. Even the smallest change in functional forces can drastically affect this sensitive equilibrium, a fact that we easily forget and ignore. The teeth and their associated support structures respond to continuous forces applied through orthopedic appliances with a complex biologic reaction which will affect the growth of the bones of the face and jaws in the period of their intense development in a small child only when they have the potential for rapid change and development. Soft tissue dysfunction influences the course and results of orthodontic treatment, and certainly the stability of the orthodontic outcome. Appropriate identification of soft-tissue dysfunction, and its influences on the developing denture could be used as a quid line when and how to perform a proper myofunctional orthodontic treatment to achieve an appropriate functional occlusion with a correct ligament in three dimensions, significantly improve the facial profile, and a stable and healthy temporomandibular joint.