Trainers - Primary Dentition for Children 12 - 15+ Years
Aligns teeth in the permanent dentition
The T4A™ is a single-size appliance that aligns the anterior dentition while simultaneously re-training the oral musculature. It is similar in function to the T4K® (for use in the mixed dentition) and T4B™ (for use with fixed appliances), and is ideal for retention and minor relapse cases.
Important Points
The steps for correct dental and facial development are:
• Lips together.
• Breathe through the nose.
• No lip activity when swallowing.
Poor myofunctional habits such as incorrect swallowing and breathing through the mouth are the major cause of misaligned teeth and poor jaw development. Research has shown that the correction of these poor myofunctional habits improves facial and dental development.
Due to the nature of removable appliances, patient compliance is essential. Therefore it is important to only select motivated patients and parents. If motivation is a problem, it may be better to suggest the use of conventional brackets.
Arch Expansion
In more severe cases when the jaws are underdeveloped, appliances such as the Farrell Bent Wire System™ (BWS™) and/or Biobloc may be required for extra widening of the dental archform. An advantage of using the BWS™ is that it can be using in conjunction with the T4A™. MRC have also developed a procedure for composite build ups know as Myolay™.
Design characteristics of the T4A™ Phase 1
Appliance use
Designed For
Works in Conjunction With Bonded retainers
How the T4A™ Phase 1 works
The T4A™ is like the T4K® but designed for the permanent dentition. It has higher sides in the canine region to align erupting canines and the distal ends are longer to accommodate the second molars. The combination of labial bows and tooth channels with the 2 phase hardness, polyurethane material, give good alignment of anterior teeth. The Myofunctional Effect™ also retrains oral musculature making it ideal in retention and minor relapse cases. The T4A™ is made of polyurethane and is available in two versions - Phase 1 (softer version) and Phase 2 (harder version).
T4A™ Phase 1 (Starting)
The Phase 1 T4A™ (blue or clear) is a softer material with the flexibility to adapt to misaligned anterior teeth. When used, light forces are applied to the anterior teeth to assist their alignment into the correct arch form. The T4A™ Phase 1 can also be used simultaneously with specific arch development appliances. Extra spacing in the palatal area means it can be used with the BENT WIRE System™ (BWS™) and also MRC's Myolay™ arch-development system.
Combined with the myofunctional habit correction of the T4A™, these light intermittent forces produce dental alignment improvements within 3-6 months.
T4A™ Phase 2 (Finishing)
Phase 2 T4A™ (red) is the same design but made in a harder material putting more force on the anterior teeth. It is to be used after the phase 1 T4A™ once more aligning force is required. This further improves the tooth and Class II correction (minor) while continuing the myofunctional habit correction. It can be phased into use starting with 1-4 hours during the day while continuing with the softer starting T4A™ at night. Treatment period varies and can be a further 3-6 months plus retention.
Patient Selection