Early Orthopedic Intervention
What is Early Orthopedic Intervention?
Fixing a child's facial growth problems is good. Intercepting the condition and preventing it is better. Early orthodontic interventions can address misalignments that affect the airway. For example, malocclusions or overcrowded teeth can impact tongue posture and airway space. This is what Dr. Berrahil strives to enhance. So, what issues in child development can be prevented? What are the functional pediatric orthodontic treatments offered?
Issues that can be addressed:
Functional Pediatric Orthodontics
Dr. Berrahil offers functional orthodontics as a treatment option beginning in early childhood.
Did you know that modern research has shown that misaligned teeth may not be genetic, but rather a result of bad oral habits started in early childhood that prevents proper jaw development?
Let Dr. Berrahil evaluate your child's oral health and development to see the steps you can take to avoid lengthy and costly procedures such as braces or surgery in the future. Instead we can opt less intrusive treatments such as expansion appliances, Myobrace and more. Let us review the aforementioned treatments:
Fixing a child's facial growth problems is good. Intercepting the condition and preventing it is better. Early orthodontic interventions can address misalignments that affect the airway. For example, malocclusions or overcrowded teeth can impact tongue posture and airway space. This is what Dr. Berrahil strives to enhance. So, what issues in child development can be prevented? What are the functional pediatric orthodontic treatments offered?
Issues that can be addressed:
- Hyperactivity/ADD/ADHD
- Snoring
- Teeth grinding
- Thumb sucking
- Mouth breathing
- Crooked or misaligned Teeth
- Small lower jaw
- Narrow upper and/or lower jaw
- Below average growth as compared to kids same age
- Sleep problems
- Bed wetting
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Neck or shoulder pain
Functional Pediatric Orthodontics
Dr. Berrahil offers functional orthodontics as a treatment option beginning in early childhood.
Did you know that modern research has shown that misaligned teeth may not be genetic, but rather a result of bad oral habits started in early childhood that prevents proper jaw development?
Let Dr. Berrahil evaluate your child's oral health and development to see the steps you can take to avoid lengthy and costly procedures such as braces or surgery in the future. Instead we can opt less intrusive treatments such as expansion appliances, Myobrace and more. Let us review the aforementioned treatments:

Palate Expanders
Palate expanders are a valuable tool in orthodontics, helping to address alignment issues early and set the stage for a healthier bite and straighter teeth in the future. Often employed when a child has a narrow upper jaw that can lead to issues such as crowded teeth, crossbites, breathing issues or difficulties with proper bite alignment. Our appliances use 3D printing, allowing for highly precise customization based on a patient’s unique dental anatomy. This makes the appliance more comfortable than traditional models, as it reduces the need for adjustments and can minimize irritation.
Am I in need of expansion treatment?
Listed below are some factors that would make you a perfect candidate for expansion:
Palate expanders are a valuable tool in orthodontics, helping to address alignment issues early and set the stage for a healthier bite and straighter teeth in the future. Often employed when a child has a narrow upper jaw that can lead to issues such as crowded teeth, crossbites, breathing issues or difficulties with proper bite alignment. Our appliances use 3D printing, allowing for highly precise customization based on a patient’s unique dental anatomy. This makes the appliance more comfortable than traditional models, as it reduces the need for adjustments and can minimize irritation.
Am I in need of expansion treatment?
Listed below are some factors that would make you a perfect candidate for expansion:
- Children with early mixed dentition
- Children with crooked teeth, crowding, crossbites, buck teeth and underbites
- Primary teeth with no gaps
- Mouth breathers
- Restless sleep
- General desire to improve teeth alignment

ALF
So, what does ALF do?
ALF (Advanced Lightwire Functionals/ Lightwire Crozat) is an orthodontic treatment method consisting of a very light wire that addresses the underlying causes of misaligned teeth, using principles of Cranial Osteopathy. The ALF appliance advances the mandible and promotes changes in muscle function to achieve stable results in improving a patient’s posture. Rather than traditional braces, patients receiving ALF treatment are fitted with a removable appliance. The appliance is custom-made and uses wires to reposition jaws, dental arches, and teeth.
What advantages does ALF offer?
Convenience: ALF patients have better accessibility to flossing and brushing their teeth, compared to traditional braces.
Cosmetics: ALF is practically invisible.
Comfort: ALF patients experience significantly less discomfort than traditional braces, as the appliance is extremely gentle and uses light pressure to promote changes in the muscle function. At the same time, ALF focuses on the overall health, airway enlargement, facial development, and works to achieve stable results in improving the patient’s posture.
Cranial Osteopathy
Cranial Osteopathy is a gently hands-on technique, that encourages the release of stress and tension throughout the body and head. This hands-on practice gently manipulates the cranial bones and fascial coverings to treat specific dysfunctions, achieve realignment and improves the patient’s overall health. While the ALF treatment method does not include this actual practice, ALF appliances work in a very similar manner by gentle manipulation of the cranial structures to achieve alignment results.
We collaborate with Osteopathic Physician Dr. Mehar Ghei. Click to visit website.
Myobrace
What is Myobrace?
The Myobrace system is a pre-orthodontic system that concentrates on addressing the root causes of the misaligned teeth. The Myobrace system can sometimes rule out the need for braces and extractions while promoting natural growth and development. This treatment tends to be more effective to children ages 3 to 15 but can be also very beneficial to adults.
How does it work?
Myobrace was designed to reverse incorrect myofunctional habits by training children to breathe through their nose, proper tongue positioning and how to swallow correctly and to promote the widening of the jaws so they can grow to their full potential. The results from this treatment include adequate room for teeth, which in turn allows them to come in naturally straight.
The appliances assist in reversing poor oral habits and widen the arch-form while applying light forces to align the teeth and jaws. The Myobrace system uses a series of removable intra-oral appliances that must be worn 1-2 hours daily plus overnight while sleeping.
Treatment Stages
Myobrace treatment begins with habit correction and works through a combination of three or more appliances to fix the causes of orthodontic problems. The treatment also aligns the teeth as they develop in the mouth. Treatment can commence as soon as poor habits are recognized however; older children may have a more difficult time reversing poor habits which will require more effort for a successful treatment outcome. With good patient compliance, incredible results can be achieved.
Please visit www.myobrace.com for more information.
Tongue Tie
Click here to learn about our tongue tie services.