PROFESSIONALS AREA

LEARN MORE ABOUTMOUTH ACTIVATORS

DID YOU KNOW THAT ?

Asymmetrical chewing caused by mixed food from a very young age (the food does not have time to be moved from left to right) favours asymmetrical muscle tone which leads to an oblique head posture. Once the head is tilted, the posture becomes overhanging and descending compensatory tensions can be triggered.

MOUTH ACTIVATORS AND CHILDREN

activateurs activateurs-buccaux enfants

For children, we act on the teeth by strengthening the muscles in a balanced way thanks to the AOP (Active Oral Prosthesis) and the AOT (Active Oral Teat). The bone is malleable and the muscles pull the jawbone in order to separate the jaws. The tongue reinforcement pushes the palate to shape it and separate the upper jawbone. Milk teeth are smaller and fewer in number than permanent teeth, which is why it is important to strengthen the muscles in order to separate the jaws and to avoid orthodontic treatment (braces) during adolescence.

The AOT also has a passive orthodontic action on the teeth. It puts pressure on the teeth and acts as a guide with its double mouthpiece in physiological class 1. It is also important to know that a pressure of 1.6 g on a tooth during 8 weeks is enough to make it move 1 mm. In children, the bone is malleable and the orthodontic action is easier. For adults, the bone is tightly fixed. However, the alveolar bone is more porous over 1 mm around the tooth. In short, the tooth can move 1 mm by tensioning the mouthpiece.

La TBA est un substitut aux tétines classiques et au pouce en bouche. La tétine classique n’est pas gênante avant l’âge de 2 ans, elle est même bénéfique The AOT is a substitute for the classic teats and thumb in mouth, which favour a lower tongue and orthodontic deformity. The classic teat is not disturbing before the age of 2 years. It is even psychologically beneficial for the child since it is a memory of the bond with the mother (breast-feeding). From the age of 2 years, the milk teeth come out and it is at this age that the classic teat should be avoided, as it can promote a low tongue and dental deformities (by pushing the tongue). Substitution with the AOT becomes therefore easier and the sucking effect fades quickly.
AOT is a psychological comfort for the child (just like a cuddly toy). The classic teat should not be taken away abruptly when it is a great comfort to the child. The AOT is the best initiative.
The AOT can be used before the age of 2 years so that the child can teethe on it. It can chew on the branches to soothe the pain of teething. Thus, the AOT is accepted more easily and the child will be able to use it more easily as a teat as soon as he can put it in his mouth.

A hypotonicity of the tongue (low tongue) forces the child to take support on the teeth (instead of the palate). If the lips are also hypotonic, they do not play their role as a stabilising wall which straightens the teeth. The tongue pushes the teeth forward and the lips give way to the pressure. This is how the teeth move forward. With the AOT (placed upside down), the child can place the ball of the handle between the teeth and the lips. When manually pulling the AOT forward, the child must contract his lips to keep the tip of the AOT between the teeth and lips. The child can also pinch the handle with his lips to strengthen them.

A hypotonic tongue spreads out and can obstruct the posterior air crossroad while sleeping. The tongue will thus prevent air coming from the nose from passing into the lungs. To breathe, the child must then open his mouth. In advanced cases, the child's mouth is open during the day. He or she breathes only through the mouth.

The AOT and the AOP Junior thus act on the improvement of functions :

MOUTH ACTIVATORS AGAINST BRUXISM

Trays can also be used to counter bruxism (central, lateralized) related to a state of stress.

CENTRAL BRUXISM = controlled, more aggressive tightening of the jaw, by absence of movement, resulting in strong pressure on the same point.

LATERALIZED BRUXISM = lateralized, more aggressive grinding on the teeth (stronger wear).

Three causes of stress which favour bruxism

- Mechanical stress (crown, worn amalgam),
- Psychological stress (state of nervous tension),
- Postural stress (unstable feet, the body is out of balance and the teeth are clenched by tensing the whole body from the top for stabilisation).

At rest, the teeth do not touch. The jaw floats and there is therefore no joint stress. It is important to know that our teeth are only in real contact for 30 minutes a day. If a patient clenches the teeth during the day (by simple contact) and at night, the temporo-mandibular joints will be overloaded and will become inflamed. The jaw is 1 mm from the inner ear and 1 mm from the atlas. These 2 elements risk being disturbed by the inflammation that invades them (via the inflamed temporo-mandibular joints).

MOUTH ACTIVATORS AGAINST SNORING

The trays act on snoring in 2 ways :

- Passively : a double tray stabilises the mouth in a physiological position. The jaw doesn't go down if you sleep on your back. So the tongue won't obstruct the posterior air crossroad.

- Actively : by strengthening the tongue, it takes up less space and no longer compresses the posterior crossroad.

MOUTH ACTIVATORS AND SPORTSMEN

Mouth activators are teeth-protectors and improve respiratory or cardiovascular performance.

Why does an athlete perform better by placing a tray in his mouth? If a patient has an inclined posture, e.g. as the Tower of Pisa, he has to expend more energy to maintain his balance in his unbalance. If the tray rebalances the head posture, the overall posture will readjust itself, which helps to save energy and make it easier to make an effort.

Head posture tilted to the right is caused  :
- either by a simple muscular problem: masticatory muscles that are too toned to the right favour a right tilt,
- or by a more consequent problem deforming the temporo-mandibular joint: a deviation of the jaw to the left favours a rotation of the head to the right (arc of a circle).

Causes of a deviated jaw :
- Trauma: boxing, slap on the jaw,
- Patient sleeping on his stomach (lateral pressure on the jaw),
- Asymmetrical overworking of the muscles which deforms the jaw at a given moment.
- Head posture in straight rotation: excessive tension of the muscles on the right. The cause is more often ocular.

Correct use of active dental trays: gentle and prolonged chewing to train muscle endurance and muscle coordination (left-right), lateralisation and protrusion.

Tedop mouth activator allows greater mobility in lateralisation, and greater resistance to counter the different movements (chewing, lateralisation, protrusion).

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MOUTH ACTIVATORS

techniques activateurs activateurs-buccaux
2 ranges: a customisable Kinepod range for ‘dental surgeons’ and a range for the general public.
hoto of an AOP dental range Photo of an AOP dental range 

The active dental trays work like a dental guide. This dynamic, so-called functional device allows a perfect proprioceptive stimulation (teeth, ligaments, muscles...), promotes balanced muscular work and, consequently, an extreme relaxation of the temporo-mandibular joints (jaws)..

ACTIONS
  • Passive (wearing at rest) and active (exercises) tray
  • Relaxes the jaws
  • Positions the jaw in angle class I
  • Balances the occlusion
  • Rehabilitates by strengthening the musculature in perfect balance (equal left-right tone) and in good coordination
  • Strengthens muscles to counter snoring and rebalance the head in order to obtain postural action
  • Reduces snoring and thus improves sleep
  • Improves functions: phonation, swallowing, breathing and chewing.
  • Counters bruxism, migraines and headaches
  • Orthodontic rehabilitation (functional and static)
  • Sports: teeth-protectors and performance enhancers
TECHNICALITY OF THE PRODUCTS
  • Double tray with edges that fit on the teeth (under and under) to impose tension on the teeth (passive correction to straighten them) and to act as a resistance to active movement (protrusion, lateralisation). See above for the dentist’s range in order to have a better action on the teeth (and to be adapted according to the case by the dentist).
    Gamme dentaire grand public Gamme dentaire et gamme « grand public »
  • Smooth branch surface to allow the teeth to slide during movement, hence the interest of not thermoforming them to the teeth like passive clip-on trays, otherwise they would only be passive.
  • Double tray in angle class I (physiological): the tray places the jaws in a physiological position.
    Double tray
  • Lingual tray: guides the palate so that the tongue positions itself gradually on the palate. This tray is not present for some models in the dentist’s range.
    Lingual tray
  • The rough logo placed at the back of the tray is a stimulation for the tongue to play with (proprioceptive contact stimulation). This is useful in the event of a low (hypotonic) tongue = awakening.
    rough logo
  • The lower part of the lingual tray allows a hypotonic tongue (low tongue) to be placed underneath in order to take support on top and to facilitate swallowing. 1st stage of tongue strengthening. The 2nd step is to reach the logo. The 3rd step is to reach the palate.
    Partie inférieure plateau lingual
  • The vertical dimension of the tray (greater thickness in front than behind). This thickness ensures physiological articular dynamics of the jaws during chewing. It provides an amplitude of physiological rotation movements.
    Classic trays are thinner and do not have an anterior thickness. When chewing them, the jaw has no amplitude and bums directly, which is traumatic. With no vertical dimension, the tray can only be used for passive wear.
    dimension verticale de la gouttiere
  • The upper central arch allows not to irritate the labial brake during dynamics.
  • cambrure superieure
  • The posterior branches have a thickness which allows the jaws to be separate from each other during night bruxism. This thickness also serves as a masticatory amplitude for the dynamics (as if it were food).
    Branche postérieure
  • The gap between the lateral branches allows the teeth to be pushed apart if the palate and lower jaw are too narrow. This requires passive wearing at night.
    Ecart branches latérales
  • Palatal contact: the edge (bigger on the dentist range) allows pressure to be put on the palate and shape it during chewing. This contact is more aggressive in the dental range.
    Palatal contact
  • The AOT has a handle so that the child can hold it more easily (reminiscence of a traditional teat). The child can turn it over to place the ball of the handle between the teeth and lips. The lips are on the branch of the handle. He can pinch the branch with his lips to strengthen them and he can also pull the AOT forward manually and resist with his lips to hold it in his mouth.
    AOT
  • Different resistances in the dentist range. Mouth activators have superior resistance to AOP (general public range).
  • The bulges (openings) of the MA allow for greater masticatory dynamics. The amplitude of the movements is greater than for the AOP.
    Dentist range and general customer range
  • The anterior bulge allows air to pass through (which facilitates breathing and playing sports).
  • The 3 bulges allow the temporo-mandibular joints to be opened passively during heavy bruxism (lateral and centred).
  • The bulges can pinch the tongue and hypotonic lips when chewing. It requires active control to avoid to feel pain. The vertical thrust of the bulges on the teeth is a passive stimulation which allows the bone to be strengthened by action-reaction (interesting in the case of receding gums). Because of the stress, the bone is forced to strengthen itself.
MATERIAL

Silicemed = Bisphenol-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free medical silicone. Elastic and resistant silicone. The density of the silicone makes it possible to eliminate perceived dental irregularities (badly shaped fillings, badly positioned crowns or implants). The fact that the tray is made of a soft silicone therefore promotes perfect dental occlusion. This is a great advantage over rigid trays that cannot compensate for irregularities.

AGE AND SIZES FOR ALL TRAYS

AOT : from 2 to 5 years (if the posterior branches are too large, they can be cut back).
AOP Junior : from 5 to 14 years old. Suitable for adults who have an inter-canine space below 3 cm.
AOP, MA and MA+ : over 14 years. Also suitable for children who have a canine space of more than 3 cm.

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