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Raphael Center for Integrative Orthodontics
More Than Straight Teeth
The Little's
Foundation Program
Getting our
Newborns to 3-year-olds
off to a better start.
At our guided growth and development orthodontics practice, we understand that many of the issues we see in both children and adults stem from early life experiences. From the way we're born to the way we first eat, there are obstacles that can interfere with the way our face develops. By identifying and addressing these obstacles early on, we can help children grow up healthier and more beautiful, with straight teeth as a desirable side effect.
The Foundations Program is a prerequisite to all the other services we offer. By getting your baby in better "balance" first, the other services will be more effective.
Our approach can have lifelong benefits, including improved breathing, sleeping, and eating, and more.
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So for all you Mama Bears that have been asking for us to catch up, here's how the program works..
Step 1: Intake
Tell us what you're looking for.
No one knows your baby like you do. We want to hear about:
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their issues,
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their history,
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the outcomes you are looking for.
You'll spend some time interviewing us to see if we're a fit, and if so, we'll arrange to meet you and your child.
Step 2: Assessment
Let us take a look.
When you come to see us and we get to meet your child, we’ll evaluate how everything is working together - from oral function and feeding patterns to breathing, sleep, body tension, growth, and development.
Your child will be assessed collaboratively by two practitioners during the visit:
A Certified Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, and Certified Sleep Consultant, who will assess feeding, oral function, breathing, sleep, habits, and developmental patterns.
A Craniosacral Therapist, who will assess body tension, fascia, movement patterns, and primitive reflex integration.
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Together, they’ll examine your child’s head, face, mouth, airway, and overall function to better understand how structure and function are developing together.
If needed, we may also take photographs and/or non-radiation scans of the mouth to help document growth and progress over time.
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Step 3: Balance
Calming the Body
Depending on your child’s needs, we may also recommend or connect you with our collaborative network of providers, including IBCLCs, SLPs, OTs, ENTs, pediatric dentists, bodyworkers, and other airway-focused specialists.
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If appropriate, we may introduce supportive tools or therapies such as light therapy (PhotoBioModulation/Babylase) or oral development tools (such as Myomunchee/Myochew or similar) to help encourage healthy oral function, calming, muscle tone, and future growth patterns.
The Littles Advanced Treatments
After going through the Foundations Program, our team will confer and present you with an individualized plan for continued therapy. This may include further bodywork, reflex integration, oral function guidance, and/or developmental jaw growth guidance.
Advanced: Shape
Changing the results of prior growth
Our developmental orthodontists and dentists will help the jaws and face get back toward optimal form. We have experience with:
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Neonatal ALF
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ALF (Advanced Lightwire Functional)
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Myomunchee and Myochew appliances
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Myobrace for Infants
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And more to come:
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Kahn Pacifiers
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Dalapicola Plates​
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Hinz Muppy Trainers
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UpLock Training system
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Advanced: Grow
Optimizing the direction of Growth and Development
We work collaboratively with a broad range of private practitioners who can help your child continue to grow optimally. We will help you find the right pathway for your child.
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This may include:
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Cranial Osteopaths
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Craniosacral Therapists
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Neurointegrative Chiropractors
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Lactation Consultants (IBCLC, CLC)
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Nutritionists
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Certified Myofunctional Therapists
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Speech and Language, Oromotor
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Early-childhood Occupational Therapy
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Neuro Reflex Integration+
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and others
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We also have an extensive Airway and Myofunctional Orthdontics program for ages 4 and up.
