Another Ortho asks me about "Trainers"

I am completely new to the technique and am very open minded but as you might understand think it is a bit too good to be true. You will not hear me say it is as easy as it sounds.  It's more than just the trainers. But the approach covers aspects of treatment and health that classic ortho just ignores. Once you learn what that is, it will be hard to stay ignorant of these issues.  

I am not sure what the situation is in the US but as a UK ortho specialist something like this would not be considered mainstream and many orthos would frown on this.  If mainstream means what everybody else does, then I agree, it will not be readily accepted since it requires intellectual retooling and some new protocols.  However, it will not replace tooth alignment techniques. It will only broaden our capabilities to guide the child to not only a beautiful smile but to better all around health as well.  Many of these concepts are well accepted if not totally well documented.  It will be the public that will demand this from us eventually.For instance, one issue you must learn about is how teeth get crooked and how that affects the airway.  With the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, like malocclusion and sleep disordered breathing, there will be a huge demand for our service soon.

I have a couple of questions please:

1. How long have you been treating cases with this and what has been your experience of long term stability and are there any side effects of the treatment documented?  Like any treatment, there are limitations, both short term and long term. There is no magic bullet.  In the past 4 years of involvement, I've had my successes and failures.  Most failures stem from my inability to garner understanding and cooperation from the family and patients.  Yes, that damnable "C" word. Ortho has been drifting toward non-compliance techniques for good reason.  And here I am trying to get people to take responsibility for their own health.  Sometimes I think myself the fool.  But what would you want for yourself (as an analogy): to prevent a heart attack or to have open-heart surgery?  What would you want for your child (as a fact): to grow with a balance between the teeth, face, spine, airway and heart, or to have one problem fixed to the detriment of others?  Were are health care practitioners, or so we say.  We have a bigger game to play than just straightening teeth.

2. In terms of getting it out there I am looking at mainly the general dental market in the UK. I think UK orthos will be late adopters to this if it works. Any thoughts on this? Go to the parents.  they will know what is better for their child.  Once they understand it, that is.  And yes, many of the GP's already understand the link between the mouth and the body.  And many wonder why it's taking ortho so long to find out.  You'll see once you start talking about this subject with conviction, your circle of influence will expand rapidly.

3. Do you have any tips on getting started as the number of appliances is a bit confusing and the types of cases I should start with? It's not the trainer so much as it is the training.  Buying a piece of exercise equipment alone will not make you fit.  You have to learn to use it properly. Soon, you can exercise without the crutch. Same with the trainers.  They teach certain specific principles of health: 1) Breathe through the nose, 2) Keep the lips together without strain, 3) keep the tongue on the palate when at rest, and 4) learn to swallow without using your facial muscles.  The trainer is just an aid to that.  The MRC concept is there to make it easier to implement this teaching.

Enjoy the journey,

Barry