Children

Many children suffer from underdeveloped upper and lower jaws. Signs of underdeveloped mouth and jaws are:

• Crowded teeth / Crooked teeth

• High narrow palate

• Recessed chin

• Deep bite

• Over bite

• Undeveloped cheek bones

• Gummy smiles

 

Often times children who suffer from a small upper and lower jaws have difficulty breathing at night. Snoring, mouth breathing, audible breathing are all signs of a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders in children should be addressed as soon as possible as children cannot grow when they are not sleeping well. The following are all health concerns that can be linked to a lack of a good night's sleep:

• Bed wetting

• Asthma

• Depression

• Aggression

• Anxiety

• Arrested growth

• Chronic allergies

• Snoring

• Fatigue

• Obesity

• Academic challenges

• Mouth breathing

• Low IQ

• ADD/ADHD

 

The most important growth stages for the upper and lower jaw occur during childhood. Early intervention, diagnosis and treatment may drastically improve a child’s overall health and wellness.

 

A removable appliance that is worn a portion of the day, in the evening and during sleep which helps the upper and lower jaw grow correctly. The appliance positions the jaws in a way that the upper and lower jaw should articulate, it allows the body to know where the bones should be growing.

 

Dr. Kerbs sees children ages 3- 14 for the pediatric appliance.

 

Adults

Similar to children, adults can have upper and lower jaws that didn’t develop properly. The signs of this are the same as children and include crowded and crooked teeth, recessed chin and narrow arches, deep bite or overbite, underdeveloped cheek bones and gummy smiles. In adults, underdeveloped jaws almost always lead to a compromised airway and sleep issues like mouth breathing and snoring.

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Normal breathing is silent and happens through the nose. Nasal breathing should be effortless and quiet with air going in and out of the nose with closed lips. Silent nasal breathing is what allows our bodies to achieve healthy and restorative sleep.

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Mouth Breathing and Snoring are not normal. The effects of sleep disordered breathing can be:

• Daytime sleepiness

• High blood pressure

• Hypothyroidism

• Diabetes

• Asthma

• Chronic allergies

• Headaches

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Obesity

• Fibromyalgia

• Attention deficit

• Aggression

• Chronic pain

• Mood swings

• Increased chance of stroke and cardiac arrest

• Erectile dysfunction

• Grinding and Clenching / Bruxism 

• GERD

 

Through proper diagnosis, Dr. Kerbs is able to determine the growth deficit and develop a custom appliance to create growth of the upper and lower jaw to correct for the compromised airway.

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Dr. Kerbs works with both the DNA and MRNA appliance systems to non-surgically remodel the airway. The appliance systems are comfortable and removable. They are only worn for a portion of the day and during the night. There is no pain involved, the appliance is passive. Through subtle vibrations the appliance activates the dormant stem cells present in the periodontal ligament to expand and grow the upper and lower arch. The expansion and forward growth of the upper and lower jaw remodels the airway.

 

​The treatment typically takes anywhere from 12-24 months.

If you or someone you love is suffering from sleep disordered breathing or any of the above conditions, please contact our office for a consultation today.

 

The DNA Appliance:

• Restores and helps maintain proper symmetry and alignment

• Promotes craniofacial and orthopedic correction

• Gives a broader, wider smile 

• A solution for crowded or crooked teeth, gummy smiles, narrow palates, TMD and sleep bruxism

• Allows for higher quantity and quality of sleep

• Can drastically reduce snoring

• Promotes a more beautiful, symmetrical and attractive face “a DNA facelift”

• Restore normal breathing and sleep patterns which improve overall health

 

 

The MRNA Appliance:

A common dental treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a mandibular advancement device (MAD). A mandibular advancement device is worn at night and brings the lower jaw forward which lifts the tissues off of the airway and thus improves sleep. While MAD are successful to a degree there are drawbacks in that these devices can cause bite discrepancies as well as TMJ problems and pain. 

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The MRNA appliance is similar to the more traditional MAD appliances in that if brings the lower jaw forward, however, is differs in that as the lower jaw is being held forward the upper jaw is being stimulated to grow which remodels the airway. In this way, the MRNA is not just a splint. The MRNA, like the DNA, is only worn a portion of the day, in the evening and at night.

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These appliance systems, the DNA and MRNA, are easy to wear, do not cause any forceful movements or pain.