REMOVABLE MYOFUNCTIONAL APPLIANCES : AN OVERVIEW

Conventional orthodontic appliances use mechanical forces to modify the position of tooth/ teeth into a more favorable position. However, the scope of these fixed appliances are greatly restricted by certain morphological conditions which are caused due to deviations in the developmental process or the neuromuscular capsule surrounding the orofacial skeleton. To overcome this drawback, myofunctional appliances came into being. These appliances are considered to be primarily orthopedic tools to guide the facial skeleton of the growing child. The distinctiveness of these appliances lies in the fact that instead of applying active forces,they transmit, eliminate and guide the natural forces like, muscle activity, growth, tooth eruption, to eliminate the morphological abnormalities and try to generate conditions for the harmonious development of the stomatognathic system. So a humble effort has been made to briefly explain the Removable Myofunctional appliances.