The first trainers appeared 20 years ago; they began to appear on the market of our country only a few years ago, but literally after their appearance, due to their high efficiency, they began to be in demand among the population. Silicone and polyurethane are used to manufacture the device. These devices can be hard or soft. In short, various solutions are offered, which makes it easy to choose an option based on your preferences.
Of course, you can expect to get the maximum result only if the trainer is chosen correctly. Therefore, before making a choice, it is recommended to visit a dentist who will help you choose the most beneficial solution in your particular case. Externally, these devices are similar to a mouthguard; they consist of:
- tongue limiter;
- lip bumper;
- marker tongue;
- labial arch;
- recesses for teeth.
IMPORTANT! The products in question are versatile, so you do not need to waste time placing an individual order for production. With the help of this device, it is possible to painlessly and completely correct the bite, as well as straighten the dentition.
In addition, the use of this device allows you to set the correct position of the tongue in the oral cavity, eliminate speech defects, and establish proper swallowing and breathing. After use, it is guaranteed that the facial muscles will begin to function correctly, and relapse of orthodontic deviations will be completely excluded.
When a doctor recommends correction with trainers
Trainers are used to straighten teeth when a patient is diagnosed with a malocclusion. Pathology can have different manifestations, so the possibility of wearing a corrector to obtain an effective result is assessed by the orthodontist individually for each patient.
In certain cases, trainers can replace a brace system if they have contraindications to wearing it. However, the corrective abilities of trainers are inferior to braces, although only slightly.
Other indications for wearing orthodontic trainers:
- deviation in tooth growth (location, direction, etc.);
- swallowing dysfunction;
- pathologies of the oral cavity leading to chronic nasal congestion.
The peculiarity of the device lies in its effect on the cause of the disease. Wearing trainers helps develop the jaw muscles, reduce pressure on the jaw bones, restore breathing through the nose and correct tongue position.
How to properly install and wear a trainer?
For proper installation and wearing of the structure, it is important to adhere to a special sequence of actions, which consists of steps repeated every day:
- Place the trainer in the oral cavity so that the central stop is turned towards the upper palate.
- Find the location in which the stopper will touch the tip of the tongue without causing discomfort or tension.
- Gently jerk your lower jaw to the left and right until the plates are seated on the molars and stop sliding.
- Squeeze your jaw with little force until you feel light pressure on the entire row of teeth.
- Tighten your lips and try to take 3-4 deep breaths through your nose. If breathing is difficult, repeat steps 1 to 4 until breathing becomes completely easy.
- Take the time recommended by your doctor, do not unclench your lips, and under no circumstances try to start talking during the process.
- Remove the trainer from your mouth and rinse it under warm running water.
For whom are they contraindicated?
Correction with an orthodontic device to correct the bite may not always be carried out. Experts advise postponing the start of treatment in case of exacerbation of chronic diseases, especially those associated with impaired nasal breathing.
There are no significant contraindications. In addition to the listed limitations, treatment is not recommended for lateral crossbite. In case of hyperactivity and uncontrolled behavior of a child, correction takes place under the strict supervision of parents and a doctor.
If there are contraindications, you can choose another method of correcting the bite. Based on the clinical picture and characteristics of the child’s psycho-emotional behavior, the clinic’s specialists will select the most effective system that will not pose any risks to the child’s health.
Advantages
An orthodontic trainer is a product similar in appearance to mouth guards. The device is made of polyurethane or silicone.
Advantages of correction using mouth guards-trainers:
- in terms of their effectiveness they are not inferior to braces (with the exception of complex bite pathologies);
- do not require round-the-clock wearing;
- installed for only a few hours a day;
- allow you to avoid aesthetic defects that arise during treatment with braces;
- ease of care (regular toothpaste and toothbrush are suitable);
- there is no effect on tooth enamel and soft tissues;
- mechanical injuries are excluded;
- elimination of the cause of the pathology, the disease itself and its consequences;
- do not require individual manufacturing, since the device has a universal size.
The popularity of the corrector is also explained by its cost. The price for trainers for straightening teeth is three times lower than for braces. The disadvantages include the need to strictly adhere to treatment tactics.
conclusions
Trainers for teeth straightening are a modern and relatively painless way to combat dental anomalies and bite problems. The orthodontist prescribes wearing the device if there are certain indications, for example, swallowing is impaired, teeth are displaced, and it is not possible to install braces. Contraindications for installing trainers include chronic nasal breathing problems and crossbite.
Trainers have many advantages: most often the choice in their favor is made due to the low price and safety of the system, since it does not affect the enamel and does not irritate the mucous membranes. But there are also disadvantages, the most negative is the slow effect on the dentition. But the effect will still be there. True, you need to choose the right product among all varieties.
The trainer is easy to get used to and easy to care for. But at the same time, wearing it gives much more than conventional braces: the device eliminates the cause of malocclusion and reduces the risk of similar problems occurring in the future. This is why many orthodontists prescribe wearing trainer systems, both separately and together with the installation of braces.
Types of dental trainer models
Bite pathology can be of different types. The design has an element at the base, which exerts varying degrees of pressure on the teeth. They produce soft, medium and hard correctors. Depending on the complexity of the defect, a trainer is selected according to the degree of rigidity. Orthodontic products are distinguished by their intended use.
Pre-orthodontic
Preorthodontic trainers are a device that is designed to correct dental growth pathologies in children with primary teeth. This model has no analogues.
Two types of construction are produced, taking into account all the features of the period of change of baby teeth:
- Infant - for 4–6 years;
- T4K - for 6–10 years.
Pre-orthodontic trainers can also be used to prevent malocclusion, under the influence of provoking factors:
- constant breathing through the mouth;
- hypertonicity of the temporomandibular joint;
- bad habits (finger sucking, nail biting, etc.);
- improper teething.
Wearing a trainer is also recommended in case of premature loss or removal of baby teeth. It is necessary to wear such a design until the teeth erupt, regardless of the age at which they were lost.
Finishing
Orthodontic trainers of the “finish” type can be recommended by a specialist to be worn by a child aged 10 to 13 years. They are prescribed mainly for preventive purposes after wearing other correctors, to strengthen the enamel if the child is prone to bad habits, to reduce muscle tone and form a swallowing reflex.
Orthodontists also prescribe this device after wearing braces to consolidate the result or to correct defects that have arisen after the removal of the braces. In this case, you will need the finishing model or, as it is also called, “retainers.”
If the bite is corrected with braces, then long-term wearing of retainers is considered a necessary measure used to prevent the reverse displacement of teeth.
For braces
A special type of therapeutic trainers for braces. Both orthodontic devices are used simultaneously, but only in certain cases:
- increased muscle pressure;
- protection of oral tissues from damage at night;
- bad habits.
With complex correction, it is possible to achieve the results of functional and hardware treatment, increasing the effectiveness of both structures.
Trainer care rules
The operational life of the device and the health of the patient’s oral cavity depend on proper cleaning of the trainer after each use.
Fortunately, trainers are convenient and practical to care for, unlike fixed dental structures. They are simply removed and washed with running water without the use of additional products. But the characteristics of the material require following certain rules when cleaning the trainer:
- Do not rinse the trainer with water of too high or too low a temperature, this may cause deformation of the silicone or polyurethane, and the product will lose its shape and, consequently, its functionality.
- There is no need to rub the trainer vigorously with hard objects, scratch it or stretch it. Otherwise, the trainer will not work effectively and properly influence the dental units.
- Sometimes there is a need to clean the trainer using soap or toothpaste, since running water does not always effectively remove all contaminants; bacteria that cause caries multiply on them.
- Trainers should be stored in a special plastic container so that it does not become damaged or dirty while not in use.
If cracks or other deformations appear on the product, it is necessary to immediately notify the attending orthodontist, since the structure may lose its functional properties, and pathogenic microorganisms may accumulate in the damage.
Timely installation of trainers will prevent further deformation changes in the human jaw.
Advantages of trainers over other correctors
When analyzing the action and effectiveness of all orthodontic devices for correcting malocclusion, according to the opinions of orthodontists, trainers have three main advantages:
- do not require constant use - the factor of non-aesthetic teeth, which often causes discomfort in society, especially among children, is eliminated;
- lack of pressure on the teeth - the effect is on the entire jaw by limiting the freedom of space, but without the absence of directional pressure;
- ease of installation - the patient can remove and install the trainers independently without additional assistance from a specialist.
Reviews of dental trainers confirm the effectiveness of the design, but only if all operating rules are observed, including indications and treatment regimen. In patients who violate correction tactics (irregularly wearing the device), the treatment result may not correspond to the expected one.
Why is it important to correct your bite?
There are several types of malocclusion in children that lead to a variety of problems. First of all, these include incomplete chewing of food, which provokes digestive disorders. As a result, gastritis and peptic ulcers may develop. Also, with malocclusion, the following problems are observed:
- headaches and speech impairment;
- overstrain of the neck muscles;
- aesthetic facial defects.
If a child does not have closure of the front teeth, this can lead to the appearance of unnecessary sounds in speech, that is, it will be difficult to understand the spoken words. Previously, removable plate structures were used to correct the bite, but now more convenient children's teeth trainers are quite accessible, and the price of the products is completely acceptable.
Features of treatment with trainers
A malocclusion can be noticed independently or diagnosed by a dentist during a routine examination. The need to wear trainers is determined by the orthodontist based on the results of consultation and diagnosis.
The corrector must be worn from 1 to 4 hours a day. The treatment regimen is determined by the doctor. It is not recommended to reduce the operating time of the device. You should choose the most convenient period during the day.
Orthodontists recommend wearing a trainer in the evening, since while the device is in the mouth, you cannot talk, drink or eat. Habituation occurs within a week. If a corrector is prescribed to be worn at night, then the child is monitored during the first month, since the trainer may fly out or the child involuntarily removes it.
The average duration of treatment is one year. During this period, you should visit the orthodontist every 2-3 months to monitor the changes that are occurring.
Trainers for straightening teeth are considered the most effective corrector for malocclusion pathologies. You can install an orthodontic device at the Martinka Clinic. Our specialists provide an individual approach to choosing a product model and determining a bite treatment plan. You can make an appointment with an orthodontist, find out how much teeth straightening trainers cost, or other information by calling or visiting the pediatric dentistry website.
