Here is an article from @vcp02 regarding the link between tongue ties & ES. This is for ES information only & is not intended to promote Dr. Bronson or the therapies he recommends:
My journey started with Tongue Tie…the main issue I have with this PDF is the ALF orthodontic device….its actually very problematic. It tips teeth is all, it doesn’t expand anything; braces/Invisalign are better and move the teeth correctly. This PDF is from 2015, so things have changed. MARPE/FME are devices that can actually expand an adult palate
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I believe my VES also started with a tongue tie. For the tongue tie itself, I had it surgically released (Dr. Zaghi, www.thebreatheinstitute.com has some good resources), worked with a myofunctional therapist (100% necessary to teach the tongue how to work properly) and then did airway expansion with a dentist who specializes in that. I wore a device called a crozat first to get expansion and then Invisalign to straighten everything out. There are other devices that actually screw into the palate to get the palate itself to expand if necessary depending on how much expansion a person needs. All of that really helped me with shoulder and neck tension and improved my sleep since my tongue was no longer impeding my airway. But then of course I was still left with VES and needed the bilateral surgery to treat my remaining symptoms. It’s a journey!
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I have an extensive hx of a bad car wreck and whiplash, also jaw surgery, and braces X 8 yrs ( 2 sep occasions) In the process of getting my Eagles diagnosis I underwent years of awful mouth guards and botox that further destroyed by bite. So its difficult to really assess who caused what and what made it all worse. I know the mouth guards exaggerated by malocclusion by 10 fold, also induced arthritis in my right joint. Post styloidectomy all my pain resolved but the damage to my jaw was done. I am 4 months into ALF treatment and am astonished at out quickly it has stopped the clicking, the clenching and improved my overall posture. While undergoing this tx I was diagnosed with a tongue tie that I recently had released. She does plan to implement an expander if needed along with invisalign. Its another 3 year journey of recovery but I wish I had know about this prior to my jaw surgery. I strongly feel had we caught this early perhaps eagle’s wouldn’t have developed as a means of compensation for head support. ( Just my theory). I am also undergoing myofunctional therapy. Fingers crossed. Incredible how interconnected our bodies are!
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Thank you for your input, @Andy89316. I did put a disclaimer in the post that the purpose for the article link was to inform people about a possible connection between tongue ties & styloid elongation/ES & not to promote the doctor or his practices. I hope everyone who reads the post pays attention to that.
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@vcp02 I’m glad the ALF therapy is helping you & will be used in conjunction w/ other things like Invisalign. It sounds like your dentist is keeping up w/ the changes in dentistry while also including ALF treatment in her protocol.
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