Metal Mouth Message Board

I suspect that my son's bad bite came from sucking in air at night during sleep apnea episodes, and his apnea resolved several years ago (with a tonsillectomy), *but* I'd like to make certain that he doesn't have any ongoing habits that would increase the risk of a relapse.

I heard about a relation between tongue thrust and relapse, and he has always suffered from speech problems (not sure if the two are related, though). How would we go about finding out if he has a habit that would increase the risk of relapse? He was seeing a speech specialist when he was a kid. Is that who assesses these kinds of things? Or would his orthodontist know (I'm hoping, because he's 1500 miles away from his surgeon right now).

I think an orthodontist can help, and if they don't know they might refer you to a speech pathologist.

Outside of the things you mention (mouth breathing, tongue thrust), there is another big contributor (or so I was told by my ortho). That's what is called a "reverse swallow", where you don't put your tongue on the roof of your mouth when you swallow, but instead you thrust your tongue forward.

After surgery I would **think** these are less of a concern because the bad things happen when your jaws are still growing. Obviously, our jaws have stopped growing. But, I can see how tongue thrust could be an ongoing concern. I have permanent retainers on my top and bottom front teeth which I think is done because I'm susceptible to the thrusting myself.

If you find anything out I'd appreciate it if you can post back.

Take Care
Chicago29

Do you feel using the permanant retainers, versus the removable, have been of help in this?

Christina28 wrote:Do you feel using the permanant retainers, versus the removable, have been of help in this?

If that was directed at me, I have no idea. I've only been debraced for 3 weeks. I also have removable retainers, though. I wear the Essix type during the day, and a wrappo/Hawley at night. I don't think that any orthodontist does permanent retainers only, at least not within the first year or so of removing the braces.

Tongue thrusting and reverse swallowing are the same thing: http://www.speechpathology.com/askexper ... tion_id=63

See a speech pathologist.

Chicago29,
So you have BOTH the permanant and removeable retainers upper and lower?

Christina28 wrote:Chicago29,
So you have BOTH the permanant and removeable retainers upper and lower?

Hi Christina28, I don't want to speak on behalf of Chicago29, but generally, yes you would get a permanent and removable retainer for both upper and lower if you get braces on both upper and lower. The permanent retainer so I've been told by several friends who've had braces before is basically non-existent in their mouth, you never know it's there

Hey, I'm currently at the starting stages of correcting my bite, including jaw surgery, but I also have a tongue thrusting habit. Im 24 and my orthodontist is suggesting a speech therapist after I have completed braces and surgery in order to prevent relapse.