Bionator

As Bionator is the name of an instrument that is used in orthodontics. It is used to treat misaligned teeth and jaws.

What is a bionator?

The Bionator is part of holistic orthodontics. This takes into account the most diverse aspects of misaligned teeth. These include a. Symptoms that occur in other parts of the body, such as neck pain, back pain or tinnitus.

The Bionator was developed in 1952 by the German dentist Wilhelm Balters (1893-1973). Balters intended to restore the patient's environment, co-world and inner world by using the special instrument. In Balters' opinion, in addition to using the bionator, posture and breathing exercises as well as the correct position of the tongue were necessary for positive development. The Bionator is primarily used with children and adolescents because they are still growing.

Shapes, types & types

The Bionator can be divided into three different types. These are the basic device, the reversing device and the shielding device. The basic device is used for therapy of the lower jaw position (distal bite position), while the reversal device is used when the patient's lower jaw is too far forward. A frontal open bite can be corrected with the help of a shielding device.

The Bionator was further developed by Felix Ascher (1908-2003), a student of Wilhelm Balters. Ascher supplemented the instrument with two retaining spikes in the upper jaw region of the first molars. In addition, the Bionator was given a plastic cover for the front teeth of the lower jaw.

Although the Bionator is just a single device, it can be placed on the upper and lower jaw at the same time. The instrument creates a connection between the two jaws.

Structure & functionality

The Bionator is composed of a tongue clip made of stainless steel, a frame made of plastic and a lip-cheek arch. A construction bite is taken to manufacture the small, handy device. For this purpose, the upper jaw and lower jaw assume the position that is later to be reached with the help of the Bionator.

The user places the Bionator loosely in the mouth. Forces are not exerted by the instrument. Rather, it serves to normalize the orofacial muscles. In addition, the growth of the jaw should proceed undisturbed.

This leads to the formation of soot spaces inside the oral cavity. These stimulate the growth of the jawbone and teeth. The tongue clip makes it possible to change the position of the tongue during the swallowing process, which in turn causes the muscles to relax. This process also has positive effects on the metabolism.

Other effects are the promotion of nasal breathing, the dissolution of lymph congestion, the development of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, and a widening of the palate. This gives the tongue more leeway in the palatal vault.

By moving the lower jaw forward, the straightening of the cervical spine and the posture of the head can be improved. This has a positive effect on the entire skeletal system. However, targeted movements of a tooth cannot be carried out precisely with a Bionator.

The therapeutic effect of the Bionator is always evident when the patient speaks or swallows. The same goes for clenching your teeth. In order for the device to develop its positive effects, the patient has to wear it for around 16 hours every day. The Bionator can be easily removed at school or when exercising.

To support the positive effects of the instrument, it is possible to do additional breathing and speaking exercises every day. Special posture exercises are also considered useful. Another help is putting on a headgear. This is a special head device.

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Medical & health benefits

Holistic orthodontics highly value the health benefits of the Bionator. In their opinion, the instrument also has a positive effect on the whole body, because misalignments of the jaw have negative consequences for other parts of the body, such as the spine. The shifting of the teeth creates an interrelationship, which in turn influences other body functions.

Psychological aspects also play a role. The patient's entire body can benefit from the normalization of orofacial muscle function with the help of the Bionator. The positive effects include the release of tension in the head and neck area, improved posture and better nasal breathing through additional lip training.

Like most functional orthodontic devices, the Bionator works best when the body is still growing. For this reason, it is particularly used with children and young people. The instrument is primarily used to treat malformations of the jaw, teeth and the chewing system (dysgnatia). These are caused by malfunction of the lips, jaw muscles, cheeks, and tongue.

In certain cases, the Bionator is also suitable for treating adults. This is the case, for example, if they suffer from dysfunction such as teeth grinding.