Mooshield or Pre-Ortho? The differences and advantages and disadvantages of mouthpiece orthodontic appliances used in the early orthodontic treatment of children with an opposite bite (ukeuchi) " 365 Dentist

Last updated August 13, 2023

Patient.

Doctor, I'm concerned about my child's ukemouth.
I heard that early orthodontic treatment can be done with a mouthpiece called Mooshield or Pre-Ortho, what is the difference between them?

dentist

I know that Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are the leading early orthodontic treatment for children with a passive mouth. Understood!
This time,Mooshield or Pre-Ortho? We will discuss mouthpiece orthodontic appliances used in the early orthodontic treatment of children with an opposing bite (ukeuchi)!

Table of Contents

What are Mooshield and Pre-Ortho?
Similarities and differences between Mooshield and Pre-Ortho
Should I choose Mooshield or Pre-Ortho?
Cost of Mooshield and Pre-Ortho｜Is it covered by insurance?
summary
1. relevance

What are Mooshield and Pre-Ortho?

Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are mouthpiece orthodontic appliances.

Both devices are used in pediatric orthodontics for children with deciduous teeth,It is used for early orthodontic treatment of a passive mouth.

Unlike wire or mouthpiece orthodontics, which are done as an adult, by balancing and improving the habits of the tongue, lips, and other muscles that affect jaw development,Improvement of children's ukemouth and prevention of future worsening of ukemouth.

Similarities and differences between Mooshield and Pre-Ortho

The treatment goal and theory of "improving and preventing future deterioration of a child's uvula" is almost the same for both Mooshield and Pre-Ortho.

However, because Pre-Ortho is an orthodontic device developed as an improved version of Mooshield,The expected speed of improvement and feel of the receiver mouth varies somewhat depending on the shape and material used.

The following points compare and explain the similarities and differences between Mooshield and Pre-Ortho.

feature
effect
Age Range
Applicable Symptoms
Mounting time
durability

Characteristics of Mooshield and Pre-Ortho

Mooshield and Pre-Ortho have the following characteristics

Mooshield -> transparent colored mouthpiece. It is shaped to cover the upper jaw and tongue.
Pre-Ortho → blue mouthpiece. It is shaped to cover the upper jaw and tongue and has bumpers on the backs of the front teeth.

The main difference between the two is that when you put the mouthpiece onIt is whether or not the back of the front teeth are supported by bumpers.

Because the preorso has a bumper on the back side of the anterior teeth,The force that pushes the upper jaw outward from the inside can promote faster improvement of the arch.

Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are also available in three sizes, S and M. Pre-Ortho has two different hardness mouthpieces, soft and hard.

Sizes are often used according to the size of the jaw.

Pre-Ortho can start with the soft type and then switch to the hard type, which is more effective in treatment, as the patient becomes accustomed to it.

Effects of Mooshield and Pre-Ortho

The theory to improve the passive mouth is the same for both.

Mooshield and Pre-Ortho can be expected to improve the passive mouth through the following approaches

Guide the tongue to the correct position
Balancing the muscles of the tongue and lips

Guide the tongue to the correct position

Both Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are expected to promote the development of the upper jaw by guiding the tongue into the correct position, thereby improving the passive mouth.

The correct position of the tongue is when it attaches perfectly to the maxilla when the mouth is closed.

In the case of a passive mouth, the tongue is not attached to the maxilla and is lowered, which often pushes the lower jaw from the inside and aggravates the passive mouth.

Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are designed to guide the tongue into the correct position when the mouthpiece is fitted, thus improving the position of the tongue, which is the cause of the passive mouth.

Furthermore, in the case of Pre-Ortho, the bumpers on the back of the front teeth may improve the position of the tongue, plus the force of the mouthpiece pushing the upper jaw outward from the inside, which may improve the bite more quickly than Moosiled.

Balancing the muscles of the tongue and lips

Both Mooshield and Pre-Ortho,Mouthpieces help to improve the muscular balance of the tongue and lips, which can be expected to improve the passive mouth.

Breathing and receiving are related and affect each other.

Tongue muscles are weak and cannot be placed in the correct position
Weak lips, inability to close mouth, etc.

Mouth breathing for this reason can disrupt the balance between the forces that push the teeth inward and the forces that push the teeth outward with the tongue, causing a variety of malocclusions.

Mooshield and Pre-Ortho help improve mouth breathing, which is one of the causes of a passive mouth, by adjusting the muscle balance of the tongue and lips by putting the mouthpiece in place.

Target ages for Mooshield and Pre-Ortho

The target ages for Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are as follows

Mooshield -> from about 3 years old
Pre-Ortho → about 3-10 years old

However, the age at which treatment begins depends on whether the child is able to cooperate with treatment, the state of jaw development, and other factors,A dentist's diagnosis is required for indications.

Symptoms to which Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are applicable

Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are,The symptoms that can be applied vary.

Mooshield → Receiving mouth only
Pre-Ortho → passive mouth, bucktooth, open bite, overbite

While Mooshield only treats the passive mouth, Pre-Ortho can treat bucktooth, open bite, and overbite in addition to the passive mouth.

Wearing time of Mooshield and Pre-Ortho

The estimated wearing time for Mooshield and Pre-Ortho is as follows

Mooshield → worn daily while sleeping (approx. 8-10 hours per day)
Pre-Ortho → Wear daily, at least 1 hour during bedtime and 1 hour during the day.

Both are to be worn to bed.

Because the longer the patient wears it, the more effective it is, some dentists may instruct Mooshield, like Pre-Ortho, to be used at bedtime and for at least one hour during the day.

The duration of treatment isApprox. 1 year to 1 year and 6 monthsIt is.

Durability of Mooshield and Pre-Ortho

Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are,Since the materials are different, the durability also differs.

Moo Shield -> Hard material made of polymethyl methacrylate.It is not flexible, but is resistant to deterioration and durable.
Pre-Ortho -> Made of resilient polyurethane. It is softer than Mooshield.Good device feel, but easily deteriorates and has low durability.

Mooshield is made of a hard plastic-like material that is resistant to deterioration and durable.

Pre-Ortho is softer than Mooshield and therefore more susceptible to deterioration.After several months of use, they may need to be replaced due to stains or odors.

Should I choose Mooshield or Pre-Ortho?

The treatment goals and effects of Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are almost identical.

Therefore, which one to choose?

Your dentist's treatment plan
Whether the dentist I go to handles Mooshield or Pre-Ortho.
cost

It is best to decide on the

However, because Pre-Ortho is designed as an improved version of Mooshield,Pre-Ortho may be recommended for its fit and functionality.

Recommended dentist who also offers Mooshield and Pre-Ortho ☟.

Cost of Mooshield and Pre-Ortho｜Is it covered by insurance?

Estimated costs for Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are as follows

Mooshield -> about 50,000-100,000 yen
Pre-Ortho → about 30,000-200,000 yen

Including Mooshield and Pre-Ortho,Early orthodontic treatment is not covered by insurance, so costs vary from dentist to dentist.

However, since early orthodontic treatment for children is deductible as a medical expense deduction, depending on the income of the dependent and the cost of the treatment, an income tax refund or a reduction of the inhabitant tax may be possible if a tax return is filed.

summary

Mooshield and Pre-Ortho are mouthpiece orthodontic appliances and have almost the same treatment goal and theory of "improving and preventing future deterioration of children's receiving mouth".

The difference is that Pre-Ortho is an orthodontic device developed as an improved version of Mooshield,Different shapes and materials have slightly different expected speed and feel of improvement of the receiver's mouth.This is to say.