The functionalists (Dento maxillo facial orthopedics): the function creates the form. We have to modify the functional environment that causes discrepancies by using the existing natural forces (facial musculature, eruptive force of the teeth, and the growth phenomena) to slowly reach harmony.

During my master degree training, at the Institute of Stomatology and maxillofacial surgery hospital, La Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris – France, I always remember those two weekly afternoons when Pediatric orthodontic cases were presented in the presence of our Professor Deneuville, the head of the Department of Orthodontics… and his assistant doctors, the child patient and both parents. It was a very important moment, the presentation, clinical examination, the functional evaluation, muscular orofacial, and orobuccal evaluation, then the diagnosis was done in three parts, which I still do up to now:
Maxilla (bones), alveolar trial and teeth. Functions: deglutition (or swallowing) and phonation were very important for me until now without forgetting the ventilation. Our professor insisted on doing a good clinical observation; functional, muscle and see the whole body of the child.
Observation leads to the diagnosis and diagnosis leads us to a treatment plan.

Our professors used to tell us: don’t think about the appliances (or devices), technique or a method. The good method is the quality and rigor of clinical observation of the child through which good result of the treatment will fellow. A good clinical observation of the child’s mouth and the whole body. I realized, years later, that I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and I’m still doing it in my daily practice, “global” and “holistic”.

Until now, I have always used some lingual functional rehabilitation exercices, which I improved through my 4 years of practice.

My professor, Odette Deneuville used to say the treatment is easy, you understood “the why of the thing”, is the CAUSE of the problem, you will treat the cause with the symptoms, the orthodontic device you can invent it, create it, decide which orthodontic device to choose, what action we want to…
Treating the cause by aligning the teeth so you will not have relapse.

At that time, at the Stomatology and maxillofacial surgery department, there was an orthodontist, in charge of LINGUAL functional rehabilitation, and a physiotherapist.

I would like to mention something about physiotherapy that in December 2014, in Paris, I took two-day courses, which included functional maxillofacial rehabilitation, by Mrs. Marion GIRARD, and one day training at the clinic of Maryvonne Fournier who is the initiator of this lingual physiotherapy in France and Italy. And I’ve learned a lot of things by asking questions to Ms. Maryvonne Fournier.

The internship I’ve had done was with Ms. Marion GIRARD, a Parisian physiotherapist masseuse specialized in maxillofacial rehabilitation (Fournier method) since 2007. She is Maryvonne Fournier’s successor and the President of the international society of lingual physiotherapy association, which I am a member since June 2015.

OGH Pediatric Center works mainly with children, and also adolescents, adults and families, from 3 years old to 99 years and up!

Aligning the teeth
Mouth breathing
Bruxism
Sleep apnea
Hyperactive children
Relapse braces cases
T.M.J disorder

Changing the environment, the disease disappears, by changing and modifying the functions in their role and natural environment.
The functional orthodontist must work in close collaboration with the posturologist, the osteopath, the E. N.T, the pediatrician and the physiotherapist.