What are ALF Appliances?
Simple Sophistication
ALF Appliances are made from gentle wires and small pieces of plastic designed to mimic the shapes of parts of the mouth with the goal of feeling comfortable and familiar to the lips, teeth, cheeks and tongue. They use gentle, rhythmic, natural and consistent forces intended to produce forces capable of generating not only orthodontic tooth movement, but also due to the unique nature of their sophisticated designs, they are capable of producing results that have far reaching effects to include the brain and the body. ALF Therapy patients and providers from across the globe have reported results of treatment that are often described as miracles that have changed lives for over three decades.
ALF Therapy is a treatment protocol utilizing a combination of neurological and structural assessments as well as functional and orthodontic therapies designed to guide the patient through their journey in wellness. While other orthodontic techniques focus on moving teeth, ALF Therapy places priority on utilizing the ALF to train the proper function of the swallow and the bite so that the natural forces and wisdom of the body can work with the patient instead of against them.
ALF Therapy focuses on the patient’s neurological needs as the primary determining factor of care with the goal of not compromising on comfort or quality of care while optimizing function and quality of life.
Why is the ALF so unique?
Utilizing principles of growth and development
The ALF appliance uses light forces to the teeth and gums delivered by an exceptionally advanced design. The ALF design is based on replicating the forces to the jaws and head that nature intended. This has been verified through years of feedback from osteopathic and chiropractic physicians who specialize in treating the highly sensitive system involving the subtle forces and influences involving the cranium and the neurological system that it surrounds.
The evolution of the family of ALF appliances has been continually refined throughout the years to their current elegant and effective designs developed by Dr. Darick Nordstrom.
As no two patients are the same - no two appliances are the same. ALF Therapy providers are trained to select and modify the ALF dental appliances to the individual needs of their patients to take advantage of their strengths and help them overcome their weaknesses.
Comfort, functional and cosmetic advantages
The ALF is barely visible to observers, easy to wear and more hygienic to maintain than most other dental and orthodontic appliances.
The ALF is one of very few dental appliances that provide adequate room for the tongue and is unique in its ability to encourge improved tongue function.
The tongue is nature's best orthodontist and retainer. Without the development of an ideal swallow, adequate nasal breathing and balanced cranial function, we often see crowded teeth as well as crooked faces, necks and bodies.
Nature intended for the tongue to continually support the roof of the mouth. However, if a child does not develop a mature swallow as a result of challenges in growth and development, they often struggle with optimal facial and neurological development.
The family of ALF appliances provide an environment of gentle, functionally balanced support to the delicately interlocked bones of the head by providing a "fake it until you make it" opportunity for tongue and breathing function by enhancing the patient's functional reflexive abilities. By providing an ideal opportunity for the patient to develop a fully functional swallow while creating more room in the mouth for the crowded tongue, the breath and swallow can better support the body's delicate neurological system and craniofacial development.
The use of the ALF is known for creating an environment of enhanced neurological function and a more balanced facial appearance by harnessing the power of one of nature's most powerful tools: the human tongue.
ALF appliances are designed primarily as a therapeutic tool and secondarily as a dental expansion appliance.
If used properly, dental bone loss and gum recession is extremely uncommon wih this gentle and conservative treatment.
If used improperly, any orthodontic or dental appliance can cause damage. Properly trained ALF Therapy providers use designs and techniques that avoid aggressive tooth movements.
ALF Therapy compared to Orthodontic techniques
Distinctly different
Even though properly performed ALF Therapy creates beautiful smiles and faces by utilizing the oral environment (including the teeth), it must be understood that this dental technique is very different from orthodontic approaches.
Patients seeking a treatment approach that is limited to the movement of teeth often seek the advice from a dentist who has taken very specialized training in tooth alignment referred to as an orthodontist. Orthodontists undertake a 2 year post doctoral program that instructs on an approach limited to tooth alignment using braces, clear aligners, surgical interventions and rigid, fixed palatal expanders.
Their instruction does not include instruction on the use of the ALF family of appliances as this instruction is only available through private instruction in the multifactorial aspect of care offered through ALF Therapy.
Patients seeking a treatment approach to prevent or treat functional issues such as:
- sleep and airway concerns
- headaches and craniofacial pain
- speech and swallowing concerns
- relapse or unwanted tooth movement as a consequence of unresolved oral neuromyofunctional deficits
...may want to consider ALF Therapy as another option to the more tooth-focused therapy provided by other forms of orthodontics.
Properly trained ALF Therapists evaluate and address the patient's neurological and developmental concerns that created the need for orthodontic intervention including aspects of health and function such as:
- the effects of a less than optimal swallowing pattern
- the impact of unresolved neck, cranial and body strains/imbalances
- less than optimal skeletal growth patterns directly influenced by neurological influences on the tongue
- retained primitive reflexes
- early childhood trauma and adverse childhood events
- metabolic and nutritional concerns
- sleep disorders including the trigeminal cardiac reflex
