Narrow Palate, Missing Teeth!

[Fluffy]

Hey Mgse,

have you ever heard of the genetic condition Marfan syndrome? It’s a fairly common condition affecting about 1 in 5000 people. Narrow lower jaw and teeth issues are prominent in the condition.

It might be worth looking at to see if you have any other accompanying symptoms of Marfan which might impact your decision making regarding surgery. I’m only suggesting as to rule it out. I found out about it while researching a condition that I have which is similar in ways to Marfan that it affects connective tissue, the symptoms can vary quite a lot between individuals, in my case I can manage things without a doctor as my symptoms are not severe, however chronic.


The signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome can vary greatly, even among members of the same family, because the disorder can affect so many different areas of the body. Some people experience only mild effects, but others develop life-threatening complications.

Marfan syndrome features may include:

• Tall and slender build
• Disproportionately long arms, legs and fingers
• A breastbone that protrudes outward or dips inward
• A high, arched palate and crowded teeth
• Heart murmurs
• Extreme nearsightedness
• An abnormally curved spine
• Flat feet

May be worth doing some research to see if you fit the criteria.

 

[gottathink]

As I have some background in bioenergetic bodywork, I am looking forward to continue with trying your approach.
One question, you refer to square breathing. Is it the same as box breathing, 4x4?

Yes, sometimes I hold for longer and try relax with good jaw and tongue placement as I hold for up to 9 seconds each side. The longer time is an extra challenge. Also I practice breathing in and out through the nose whilst doing aerobic exercise. This was initially very difficult and very challenging but have become very good at it now.

 

[Mgse]

Hey Mgse,

have you ever heard of the genetic condition Marfan syndrome? It’s a fairly common condition affecting about 1 in 5000 people. Narrow lower jaw and teeth issues are prominent in the condition.

It might be worth looking at to see if you have any other accompanying symptoms of Marfan which might impact your decision making regarding surgery. I’m only suggesting as to rule it out. I found out about it while researching a condition that I have which is similar in ways to Marfan that it affects connective tissue, the symptoms can vary quite a lot between individuals, in my case I can manage things without a doctor as my symptoms are not severe, however chronic.


The signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome can vary greatly, even among members of the same family, because the disorder can affect so many different areas of the body. Some people experience only mild effects, but others develop life-threatening complications.

Marfan syndrome features may include:

• Tall and slender build
• Disproportionately long arms, legs and fingers
• A breastbone that protrudes outward or dips inward
• A high, arched palate and crowded teeth
• Heart murmurs
• Extreme nearsightedness
• An abnormally curved spine
• Flat feet

May be worth doing some research to see if you fit the criteria.

Hi, Fluffy.

Never heard of the Marfan syndrome. I don't see the physical signs and syndrome features (maybe the high, arched palate syndrome feature but no crowded teeth and it could be explained by other solid factors like deviated septum, lower missing back teeth etc) and certainly I couldn't pass the medical exam during my military high school application (did pass it but failed at the entrance exam).

 

[gottathink]

I have just found a new exercise set that seems useful. “Thumb pulling”. The presenter is young and talks about improving your looks with these exercises so it’s a bit superficial. Although we do all want to feel like we are well presented and to me how my facial musculoskeletal tissues feel contributes to my confidence in facing the world. Tension and stress makes me want to shut down, relaxed strong and bright gives me strength and courage. There is a lot he says that is spot on as he has extensive training in orofacial therapy. I have just tried the 5 minute routine, it’s easy to do and feels effective, I will be adding it to my daily exercises.

It involves pushing your thumbs into and outwards on your upper palate for two sets of 30 seconds. There are three different positions so does not take long. Anyone who has trouble sleeping and has tried everything else may want to give this a go.

 

[gottathink]

I have just found a new exercise set that seems useful. “Thumb pulling”. The presenter is young and talks about improving your looks with these exercises so it’s a bit superficial. Although we do all want to feel like we are well presented and to me how my facial musculoskeletal tissues feel contributes to my confidence in facing the world. Tension and stress makes me want to shut down, relaxed strong and bright gives me strength and courage. There is a lot he says that is spot on as he has extensive training in orofacial therapy. I have just tried the 5 minute routine, it’s easy to do and feels effective, I will be adding it to my daily exercises.

It involves pushing your thumbs into and outwards on your upper palate for two sets of 30 seconds. There are three different positions so does not take long. Anyone who has trouble sleeping and has tried everything else may want to give this a go.

I think the visualisations will work to relax the fascia as the warm up to these exercises. I reason that these exercises apply the strong forces bones need to stimulate remodelling. This is different to treating the fascia which responds to application of very gentle forces that stimulate its contractile elements, these then generate the forces that stimulate remodelling.

 

[hiker]

I was treated with a palate expansion device when I was 10 years old. I found it to be a horrendously painful process. I'd think the process would feel even worse now, doing it as a very mature adult.

I think that science and technology have improved since you're 10 years old and I agree that when changing things others will get changed too, hopefully for the better. Being a mouth breathing (snored a lot) isn't a good thing and missing at least four teeth (two on each side) in the back of the lower jar isn't helping at all either with digesting the food (difficulty chewing).

I've gathered that dental arch expanding/ developing (especially nowadays) can be done with minimal discomfort.

For example, an ALF (advanced light wire functional) appliance (one version of it pictured below) is activated once a month very slightly, and if there is any tenderness, it will be minimal and recede in a few days. I believe that the key is to use very small forces, so that the bone (and the teeth) will be able to "spread". Too much force won't be able to allow the bone to develop, as the appliance rests on the teeth.




I understood that cranial osteopathy is often combined with using functional orthodontic appliances. That approach apparently harmonizes and advances things further.

I have just found a new exercise set that seems useful. “Thumb pulling”.

Interesting information, gottathink! Your experiences and mention of thumb pulling brought to mind "interoral face pulling", which is an online course describing how to DIY a mixture of cranial osteopathy/ muscle massage/ mewing/ etc (it costs 44 euros). People seem to have had very beneficial results with it regarding all kinds of cranial issues. For instance, they were able to widen their dental arches, have fewer headaches, and so on. (Some contraindications are mentioned in the course description though.)

About the course, the majority of those who have done it appear to be fairly young. I remember Mike Mew mentioning in his youtube videos that doing mewing (on its own) properly can bring considerably good results "effortlessly" when you are on the young side; he quoted 25 years as a turning point. I suppose it's individual, some could have advancements beyond that point, and with others, it could take a longer time, probably not getting "full" results with mewing, interoral face/thumb pulling etc. alone.

In light of this, I think the older individuals could benefit from arch development done with appliances to aid and "speed things up", particularly when there are tougher deficiencies in the dental and facial structures involved.