LM-activator – an improved method of orthodontic dental treatment

Expensive and inconvenient to use braces have been replaced by the LM-activator (trainer) - a special mouth guard made of medical silicone.

Lm Activator can be used already at the teething stage and during the subsequent period of their growth. The device is easy to use and can be removed if necessary.

It has an aesthetic appearance, is almost invisible on the teeth, which makes the wearing process comfortable and enjoyable.

Purpose and capabilities

This orthodontic device is designed to correct the position of the dentition.
Recommended for use mainly in children from 3 months to 13 years. It can be installed even before teeth erupt. Thereby preventing their curvature and minimizing possible jaw deformations. With the help of a trainer it is possible to change an incorrect bite. The LM activator is available in several configurations and sizes. Each little patient can choose a suitable model.

The device promotes:

• teething in the correct position;
• alignment of the dental arch, incisors, molars and canines;
• formation of physiological bite;
• normal development of the lower jaw;
• getting rid of bad habits: thumb sucking, tongue sucking, etc.;
• normalization of respiratory and swallowing functions.

LM-Activators in the practice of an orthodontist

Orthodontic treatment of patients with pathology of the dental system is an integral part of complex dental treatment.

Words such as “plates” and “braces” have entered our lexicon along with such dental concepts as “filling”, “crown”, “denture”. It is already difficult to meet a teenager who has not worn braces in his life. More and more often, parents insist on orthodontic treatment for their children in early preschool age. It is no longer uncommon for children to be brought in for consultation with an orthodontist when they are cutting through their first pair of teeth and have a diastema.

Orthodontists have learned to effectively treat various pathologies of permanent occlusion. They have at their disposal all kinds of removable devices, braces systems, and maxillofacial surgery. Teenagers “cry” and wear whatever it takes to create a socially acceptable picture of a successful person, and adults are increasingly choosing to undergo bite and facial surgery to achieve the same goal. How much inconvenient, ineffective treatment that does not guarantee the stability of the treatment result could have been avoided by starting treatment during the formation of the dental system. Control and elimination of bad habits, treatment of pathology of the ENT organs (creating conditions for breathing through the nose), treatment of pathology of the supporting apparatus (elimination of the results of birth trauma, normalization of posture) can significantly reduce the risk of developing pathology. Better results can be achieved not by mechanical movement of teeth and surgical changes to the jaws, but by creating conditions for the formation of the dental system under physiological conditions.

We are talking about PREVENTION of dental anomalies and EARLY TREATMENT of the first manifestations of deviations from the norm. It is important here to educate parents about the need for breastfeeding, timely abandonment of the pacifier, combating bad habits of thumb sucking, mouth breathing, etc. Screening examination of the maximum number of children by an orthodontist is also very important. It is important to timely treatment of identified deviations of the dental system and systems that directly affect the formation of the bite, the health of the ENT organs, and the spine from normal.

Unfortunately, the system of medical examination of the population was destroyed in the sad 90s of the last century, “dental offices” in schools were closed, routine examinations of children in kindergartens stopped, and private dentistry does not rely on seeing children due to the low financial result compared to prosthetics on implants. And in vain.

At a children's appointment at ORTONIK, each child is examined “through the eyes of three specialists”: a therapist, a surgeon, and an orthodontist. Naturally, first of all, the level of oral hygiene is assessed and brought back to normal. Then therapeutic and surgical sanitation of the oral cavity begins. Children who need the help of an orthodontist undergo additional examination: diagnostic photos, control and diagnostic models of the jaws, x-rays. All examined patients are divided into 2 groups: a group requiring immediate orthodontic treatment using a particular device and a group requiring dynamic monitoring.

In the orthodontic treatment of ORTHONICS patients, we use removable plates, mono- and twin-block activators, and, of course, silicone activators.

From the many activators available on the market, we chose the Finnish-made LM activator. This choice was influenced by studying with the author of LM technology, Professor Katri Keski-Nisula, in January 2013 at the University of Turku. And the results obtained in the treatment of our patients in 2013 confirmed us in the correctness of this choice.

The LM Activator is convenient and effective in treating many types of malocclusion, including crowding, open bite, deep bite and distal bite.

The range of device sizes from 10 to 70 allows you to select a device for children of different ages with great accuracy. In addition, the LM activator requires only minimal adjustments. The time the patient spends in the chair ranges from 5 to 12 minutes. In addition, treatment with this device increases the intervals between visits to 6-12 weeks. Also, the same device can be used as a retainer. Current LM activator models are not effective for patients with skeletal class 3 disease and have therefore not been prescribed for them.

MATERIALS

In 2013, 102 patients of different ages were prescribed to use the LM-activator in treatment. Of these, 2 children with a primary dentition, 84 children with a removable dentition and 2 adult patients with a permanent dentition. Treatment began after a clinical examination, analysis of control and diagnostic models, photographic recording of the face and dentition. X-ray images: OPTG was prescribed to all patients from 7 years of age, TRG - for severe distal or mesial occlusion. One or two LM activators were used in each patient. The device was required to be changed if it was necessary to move to the next size or if the device was deformed due to “illegal” actions of a small patient. The size of the device was determined in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Patients were advised to wear the device all night and 2 hours during the day. In fact, patients only wore the device at night. Single disciplined patients wore the device for an additional hour during the day.

The duration of observation of the group of patients from January 2013 is 12 months.

Examples of treatment:

L.A. age 10/3. Distal occlusion, deep incisal overlap, crowded teeth. LM activator model - No. 45 Low Short. Elimination of protrusion 12, 22, rotation 11,21, initial alignment of the lower incisors when using the device only at night for 12 months in 2013.

Fig.1-3 Date: 01/13/2013

Fig.4-6 Date: 12.2013

N.V. age 11/6. Car injury. Complete dislocation 11, impacted dislocation 21 22. LM-activator model - No. 50 Low Short. Extrusion with 21 22 elastic rings supported by a hook in the base of the apparatus. The device was used in parallel with removable dentures on the upper and lower jaws for four months.

Dates: 09/11/2012 - 01/18/2013 - 08/05/2013 - 12/26/2013

C.A. age 22/3. Model LM-activator - No. 60 Low Long was used as a retention device after orthodontic treatment.

DISCUSSION

Our statistics showed that it took from several days to 3-4 weeks to adapt to the device. Two patients required additional correction of the device in the sublingual area, the rest stopped complaining of discomfort from the device on the 3-4th day of daily use. By the end of the first month of treatment, all patients stopped “finding” the device on the pillow, except for 5 patients out of 102. These patients stopped treatment. The first photo-recorded improvements in tooth position were achieved within 4-6 weeks. Patients were seen every 6-8 weeks. The patient talked about his impressions of the device. At each subsequent examination, positive changes were noted. During a year of observation, the majority of children receiving treatment showed favorable intermaxillary relationships in the segment of incisors, canines and molars. The vertical gap in the frontal region closed with an open bite, the depth of the incisal overlap decreased with a deep bite, the dentition was aligned, a mesial step appeared in the molar area, and the canines showed almost full class I. And all this while using the device in almost 99% of children only at night.

The patient's stay in the clinic for the entire course of treatment was significantly less than with other techniques, because regular visits every 4-6 weeks took only 5-10 minutes each. The advantage of the LM activator is that it not only directs the eruption of teeth, but also simultaneously acts on the dental arches in the transverse and sagittal directions.

Parental education and support are always necessary when treating children with removable appliances, especially at the beginning of treatment. Most children quickly mastered the device; we received complaints from the parents of 8 patients over the course of a year due to repeated falls of the device from the child’s mouth during night sleep. In 7 children, the device stopped falling out of the mouth after 1-1.5 months of use. We were unable to call one child for an appointment due to parental refusal. Treatment discontinuation could be due to compliance problems, the child not wanting to wear the device, or the parents not being motivated enough to support it. Various psychosocial disorders in the families of these children were one of the main reasons for poor cooperation. Professor Katri Keski-Nisula's submissions suggested that the young age of patients would be the main limiting factor for widespread early treatment. In our practice, it turned out that the most important factor influencing compliance with the wearing regimen is the marital status, and not the age of the patients themselves. Based on ORTHONICS statistics, we cannot draw global conclusions about the effectiveness of treatment in early mixed dentition, but we will continue to monitor our patients. However, the results obtained are already encouraging. There are also results that we did not expect: the oral hygiene of patients wearing the LM activator and undergoing regular examinations is better than that of patients who do not need orthodontic treatment and undergo examinations only once every 6 months. The increase in caries and the increase in complicated forms of caries in these patients is 16% lower. Young patients, getting used to the doctor’s manipulations, easily accept other dental procedures: professional hygiene, dental treatment. The clinic’s workload for preventive appointments and pediatric dentist appointments has also increased, and financial results have also improved, which is important for a private clinic.

Conclusions:

The use of LM-activators in the practice of an orthodontist at a pediatric appointment, according to the results of treatment of orthodontic patients, is effective. The financial performance of a private dental clinic using LM activators is positive. We recommend using the LM activator in the practice of a pediatric dentist and an orthodontist.

Literature:

1 Persin L.S. "Orthodontics. Diagnosis and types of dentofacial anomalies."

2 W.Proffit Contemporary orthodontics.

Author of the article:

N.M. Sosnina, orthodontist. Family dentistry "ORTONIKA" Tolyatti, ortonika.ru

When is use recommended and contraindicated?

Doctors recommend using the LM activator for the following pathologies:

• close arrangement of the front incisors and canines , when the teeth sit closely and overlap each other;
• varying degrees of rotation (rotation, rotation of the tooth);
• deep bite (improper closure of teeth when the upper incisors overlap the lower ones);
• open bite (when there is no closure of the teeth, there is a vertical gap between the front or side teeth);
• cross bite (the teeth intersect chaotically when closing, due to the displacement of the jaw bones in relation to each other);
• distal bite (the front jaw is strongly advanced relative to the lower jaw);
• a gummy smile is characterized by a strong opening of the upper gum.

When the use of silicone mouthguard is prohibited:

• narrow upper dental arch;
• mesial bite (the lower jaw is pushed forward in a closed mouth position);
• the midline is shifted by more than 3 mm.

How to use?

When a doctor prescribes wearing a trainer, for many parents it comes as an unpleasant surprise, since they have no idea how to use the device or what kind of care it requires.

The use of the design requires the close attention of parents, as well as the responsibility of the little patients themselves.

Wearing rules

The LM-Activator must be used strictly as prescribed by the doctor, without reducing the wearing time .

Most often, it is recommended to wear the device for 2 hours during the day and throughout the night. The two hours of the day can be divided into several intervals, but you should not eat food during this time.

Read about the distinctive features of the blue T4A trainer in the next review.

In this material we will consider the concept of crowding of the front teeth.

Here https://orto-info.ru/sistemyi-vyiravnivaniya-zubov/lechebno-profilakticheskie-apparatyi/treyneryi-dlya-tsena-na-razlichnyie-vidyi.html we will talk about what factors influence the price of children's dental trainers.

Care

When using an orthodontic appliance, there is no need to constantly rinse, clean, or use specific products.

Maintenance is quite simple , for this the design requires:

• brush with toothpaste after wearing it overnight;
• Boil periodically for disinfection;
• Once every two to three months, take it to the dentist for cleaning and selection of the required size, since the child’s jaw is constantly growing.

Device design

A distinctive feature of this trainer is that it is made of hypoallergenic silicone of medium hardness. Patients very quickly get used to a new foreign body in the oral cavity.

The device is available for the upper and lower jaws. The high sides of the device allow it to be securely secured in the mouth and ensure further comfortable wearing.

The pad has through holes for air exchange, which is very important for free breathing, as well as gum health. In the area of ​​the molars, the structure is made with different intervals in width and height. This allows us to take into account the individual characteristics of the jaw structure of each person.

There are special grooves for the front teeth so that the teeth gradually return to their normal position as they grow.

There are high and low silicone devices. High teeth are used to correct open bites. Low ones are more functional.

LM activator models are also divided into long and short. The long design is used when most molars are present. The short model is necessary for patients with seventh molars that have not yet appeared.

Who produces

The manufacturer of LM activators is the company LM-Instruments, which is located in Finland. The device was developed by French orthodontist Daniel Rollet. The devices began to be manufactured in the late 80s.

LM activators are produced in different sizes and parameters. Each has its own purpose, so a doctor must select a specific device. Each product is sold in a container of its own color. In total, there are 37 types of activators for teeth.

4 main types of LM activator in different boxes

By height

Based on height, there are low and high varieties. The low model has broader indications for use, while the high model is specialized. It is designed for open bite. In addition to the enlarged sides, this LM-activator has thickened lateral sections of the walls in the area of ​​the second premolars and molars.

By lenght

The availability of short and long LM activators on sale is explained by the fact that the device is often prescribed to children whose so-called “sevens” have not yet emerged. If parts of the molars are missing, wearing a long model is inconvenient, so a shortened one is used.

To size

LM activators are divided by size for ease of wearing. To select the appropriate device, the doctor uses a special line of LM-OrthoSizer. It helps to calculate the size between the second incisor and the canine and determine which product the patient requires. If there is crowding of teeth or diastema, the doctor gives preference to a larger or smaller size of the structure.

Ruler for selecting the size of the LM activator

Children need to wear trainers and elastopositioners every night and 2-3 hours during the day (in total). You cannot talk while wearing the device, so the mouth guard must be worn while reading, playing on the computer, doing homework, or watching TV.

The process of dentition correction

The best effect is achieved if you start using the device in the early period before teething or during their appearance. As the child’s maxillofacial apparatus grows, the trainers have to be changed 2-3 times.

Stages of corrective treatment:

1. At the first visit to the doctor, a visual examination of the condition of the oral cavity takes place. Special measurements and x-rays are taken if necessary. The doctor makes a diagnosis. The orthodontist decides what type of fixation is required in each particular case. The expected duration of treatment is discussed.
2. Active use of the LM activator occurs strictly as prescribed by the doctor. It is necessary to observe the periods of wearing and removing the mouth guard. Follow instructions for care and cleaning of the device. Do not chew or squeeze the pads. After 1 month you should see a doctor. Next, you need to visit the orthodontist every 3 months to monitor and adjust the therapy.
3. The duration of treatment depends on the individual characteristics of the patient. Some people need little time to correct the deficiencies of jaw pathologies, while others need a long period of time to achieve results. Treatment can be completed after the correct bite has been formed and the teeth are aligned. In some cases, it is recommended to continue using the trainer only at night. All actions and manipulations of the doctor are based on data on the state of the patient’s bone-jaw characteristics. Taking into account growth rates and changes in physiological parameters. The average duration of treatment with LM-activator is 1 year.

The orthodontic device is made of durable, safe material. But still, with a strong mechanical impact on it, the device can become deformed. The instructions for use must be strictly followed.

Indications for use

Medical indications that serve as the basis for prescribing a device include:

• Identified malocclusion development;
• The need for correction of the smile area caused by excessive exposure of the gums;
• The need to correct crowding and rotation of individual elements of the dentition.

There are not many restrictions that exclude the possibility of treatment using an activator. This list includes mesial occlusion, excessive narrowness of the maxillary arch, as well as a displacement of the central axial line by more than three millimeters.

Universal manufacturing technology allows you to expand the functionality of the device. If necessary, the design can be supplemented with auxiliary elements that increase the corrective pressure. In addition, the structure of the activator allows you to combine therapeutic and strengthening procedures - the use of whitening and mineralizing compounds improves the aesthetics and strength of the enamel coating of teeth.

Pros and cons - analysis of opinions

According to practicing orthodontists and dentists, as well as patient reviews, the LM activator is the optimal means of early correction and correction of orthodontic disorders.

We wear the activator for 3 months. We can wear it for two hours during the day only on weekends; we always wear it at night. The effect is noticeable even to a non-specialist. The dentition has become straighter due to the fact that the son sucked his tongue in his sleep, which is probably why the upper mouthguard is now a little chewed. Apparently, we will have to change the device soon. But I’m willing to pay a lot of money for the result.

Natalya 05/12/13

Don't expect quick results from wearing pads; be patient. Not all children are able to withstand a couple of hours during the day in silence, without opening their mouths. At night, when the baby falls asleep, he relaxes his jaws and the activator falls out onto the pillow (not every night, of course).

But despite this, our family appreciated this wonderful device. We are satisfied and recommend it to everyone.

Valentina Igorevna 02.23.14

LM-activator is a method of treatment, and at the same time a preventive measure. It is used for existing or possible pathologies in the structure of the dentition and malocclusion. This device helps children acquire a beautiful smile and communicate freely and uninhibitedly with their peers.

The photo shows the dentition before and after using the LM activator

Pros of the device:

• allows you to achieve the desired result in the shortest possible time;
• convenient design, aesthetic appearance;
• optimal wearing mode;
• used in the earliest stages of dentition formation;
• speech defects are eliminated, facial tone increases;
• helps get rid of bad habits;
• acceptable price.

LM-Activator has proven itself only on the positive side. Some patients have reported that the trays sometimes fall out of their mouths at night, but these are isolated cases.

Correction of bite with mouthguards (trainers)

Recently, new devices have appeared in the group of elastopositioners : LM-activators and Myobraces , as well as NITE-GUIDE-CORRECTOR for children 5-7 years old, OCCLUS-O-GUIDE-CORRECTOR for children 8-12 years old, ORTHO-T-CORRECTOR for children aged 12 years and older.

These devices are successfully used by orthodontists in many countries. They are most often needed in a changing, sometimes temporary, dentition, when the use of a “rigid” structure made in a dental laboratory is impossible or difficult due to poor fixation on changing teeth.

Sometimes it is enough to use such a device to eliminate minor deviations or the causes that cause them (biting lips, pencils, fingers, objects, tongue protruding, “habitual” mouth breathing, etc.). But more often these devices are used at one of the stages of orthodontic treatment.

Myobrace trainers

The Myobrace system is used to straighten teeth and correct bites as an alternative to braces.

The Myobrace trainer system is represented by three series of devices:

• MBS (Myobrace Starter);
• the Myobrace system itself in 7 sizes;
• frameless MBN series, in 7 sizes.

Myobrace treatment is based on the use of myofunctional orthodontic techniques to eliminate harmful myofunctional habits, which are the main cause of crowding. The bite is corrected under the influence of the intermittent action of a weak leveling force. For more than 50 years, dentists and orthodontists around the world have been using myofunctional orthodontics.

The essence of the method is to use removable orthodontic appliances, which are worn for only 1-2 hours every day, as well as throughout the night (during sleep).

As a result of daily use of the Myobrace device in combination with regular exercises to normalize breathing, muscle function and tongue position, the bite is aligned and function is restored, which, in turn, plays a big role in the development of the correct facial shape and a healthy smile.

Advantages of a pre-orthodontic trainer:

• Made from elastic material. It acts gently and does not inhibit jaw growth.
• Includes several planes - several functions.
• Can be used in mixed dentition, when “rigid” devices manufactured in outpatient settings will not bring much benefit or cannot be used due to poor conditions for fixing or restraining jaw growth with a rigid structure, and it is necessary to work on creating myodynamic balance in the oral cavity and normalizing function already in this period.
• If at this stage of the child’s development the deviations are corrected or reduced, then, consequently, the need for orthodontic treatment in the group of these children will decrease in 2-3 years.

Price issue

The price of the LM activator fluctuates around 4000-6000 rubles. Please remember that several devices may need to be changed during treatment as your child's jaws and facial bones grow and develop. Some people get by with just one trainer.

Straightening teeth with braces will cost much more, and their use is more uncomfortable and troublesome compared to trainers.

The main correction occurs at night. During the day, mouthguards can be worn at home, out of sight of prying eyes, this eliminates the feeling of discomfort and psychological stress due to the need to communicate with people during the treatment period.

LM activator for children

The LM Activator is a removable orthodontic appliance made of soft silicone that is used to straighten children's teeth during their active growth stage. It is used as early orthodontic treatment and to prevent malocclusion in children.

Trainer LM-Activator	19,800 rubles
Preventive examination of the orthodontist at the stage of orthodontic treatment	900 rubles

All prices

Treatment process

The treatment process with LM-activators is quite long and depends on the nature and severity of the anomaly - usually it takes at least one year to completely correct the deficiency. The wearing time of the structure is usually 12 hours - all night and several hours during the day. While wearing the activator, the teeth should be tightly fixed in the device and the lips should be closed. It is not allowed to “chew” the device or bite it, as this can lead to mechanical damage. At the beginning of treatment, wearing the activator may cause inconvenience, discomfort and pain, which disappear over time. The device does not harm the roots of the teeth due to the fact that the process of moving teeth occurs gradually. It is not enough to simply buy an LM-activator, because treatment must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist from the MY ORT clinic. The cost of treatment with an LM-activator starts from 8,000 rubles. In some cases, the use of two devices is required. With us, the price of treatment is announced to the Patient during the consultation, then it is fixed in the contract and does not change throughout the correction.