The North American Association of Facial Orthotropics® includes clinicians and technicians who believe that ideal development of the face and jaws is dependent on correct oral posture, and who support and use a defined treatment called Orthotropics®. Our group includes members throughout the world.
Correct oral posture is defined as the tongue resting against the palate, with the lips sealed and the teeth in or near contact. NAAFO Members are committed to improving faces by guiding the growth of the jaws horizontally while the patient is young, by means of appliances (Facial Orthotropics®), supported by postural training of the tongue, lips and cheeks (Myofunctional Therapy).
Correct oral posture Most children start out with attractive faces, but if they leave their mouths open, their faces will grow vertically and they are likely to develop into unattractive teenagers with long faces, flat cheeks, prominent noses, and protruding front teeth. Alternatively they may have the common habit of resting the tongue between the teeth and sucking against them when swallowing. This will cause the teeth to tilt inwards and crowd, making the middle of the face look concave.
Many types of treatment will straighten teeth, but most tend to pull them back, necessitating extractions and further reducing room for the tongue. Orthotropists believe that this is detrimental to facial development and that ideal facial growth, together with permanent straightening of all the teeth, can only be achieved if room is provided for the tongue and the patient is taught to keep his/her mouth closed and swallow correctly.