FACIAL ASYMMETRY
MASTICATORY EXERCISES
It is important to have a qualified professional to evaluate and find the deviation of the median line and the movement pattern in the mandibular condyle. Only then it is possible to know on which side the masticatory exercises will be performed:
On the opposite side of the median line:
• Morning – once, during 5 to 10 min.
• Afternoon – once, during 5 to 10 min.
• Night – once, during 5 min.
The patient can stay much longer with the Hiperboloide in the mouth, as long as it is not chewed so the muscle fatigue is avoided.
Picture A - Unilateral mastication, in the opposite side of the median line:
Exercices for facial asymmetry with Hiperboloide
A moderated asymmetry generates a certain beauty, however, when an accented facial asymmetry occurs, with relation to an occlusion instability, this deformity affects the individual self-esteem, generating social exclusion or even depressive status. This asymmetry can be treated, though.
The search for new ways to reach the ideal beauty can several times leave health aside and harm the life quality. There are other alternatives, though, that keep the welfare and improve the physical conditioning and body aesthetics such as: going to the gym, hiking, sports. However, the body is not the only one who needs workout and stretching.
A flaccid face does not match with a good physical conditioning, so the cranial and face muscles also need care and well guided physical exercises, such as the mastication ones.
There is, thus, a close relation among all the muscles in the face along with the mastication muscles in the facial symmetry. If an individual always masticates in the same side, or if he/she has some masticatory dysfunction or even in the temperomandibular articulation, he/she will, consequently exercise one side of the face more than the other. Other factors that help to worsen the situation are the expression habits such as smiling pulling more the right side then the left one. Due to the gradual deformation of the cranial and facial bones, even a person with a high level of asymmetry could do an aesthetic treatment to minimize the asymmetry effects.
Therefore, the efficiency of the isometric and isotonic exercises in the facial musculature can be used in favor of the aesthetics, in order to reduce muscular flaccidity, wrinkles and expression marks. A study published by the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation showed that making the exercises during 3 months helped to reduce wrinkles, expression marks and facial flaccidity.
Hence, to avoid increasing the asymmetry levels, specially for the mandibular dysfunctions, a masticatory instrument called Hiperboloide can be used. It is capable of rebalance the masticatory structures, healing these dysfunctions and preventing the increasing of facial asymmetries. In addition of being used as an instrument to perform isometric and isotonic exercises, reducing wrinkles, expression marks and facial flaccidity.
The CEFAC Magazine, published a study where the Hiperboloide was crucial to the aesthetic treatment for individuals with facial asymmetry, favoring the realignment of the structures.
Facial alterations were noticed after 2 months of treatment with the supervision of a Speech Therapy professional and the Hiperboloide.
EXERCISE: Stimulations of tone in the lips/buccinator orbicular complex and in the pharynx constrictor (Korbitz triple sealing and Fränkel valves):
This exercise must be performed according to the qualified professional recommendations, after the facial evaluation.
Put the functional Hiperboloide with the string in the labial fold (buccal vestibule), in the inferior region of the lip (right), use the cheek to contain it (lip orbicular), and traction the muscles up to pull the string. The movement is repeated during 2 minutes. The same process is repeated for the superior region of the lip, pulling it down.
Picture B
EXERCÍCIO 3 : LATEROPROTRUSIVOS
– para Briquistas (apertamento, movimentos verticais prevalentes).
Na mesma posição (mediana) aperta-se, o Hiperboloide e no sentido lateral movimenta-se a mandíbula deslocando o Hiperboloide da mediana, vai até onde dá e pára. Retrocede a mandíbula para a mediana e solta (repetitivo). Repete-se o movimento 5 vezes, lentamente, 4 vezes ao dia, tanto do lado direito como do esquerdo. Os movimentos devem ter a duração de até três minutos (Figura C).
Figura C
EXERCISE: PROTRUSIVE MEDIANS
This exercise must be performed according to the qualified professional recommendations, after the facial evaluation.
Put the Hiperboloide in the median, tighten it, slide it, move the jaw forward very slowly, move it back and release (repeat). This exercise must be executed very slowly, and the movement must be repeated 6 times, 4 times a day. The movements must last up to 3 minutes.
Picture C
EXERCISE: LATERO-PROTRUSIVES
This exercise must be performed according to the qualified professional recommendations, after the facial evaluation.
In the same position (median), tighten the Hiperboloide, and, in the lateral direction, move the jaw, dislocating the Hiperboloide in the median, going as far as possible and stop. Move the jaw back to the median and release (repeat). The movement is repeated 5 times, slowly, 4 times a day, both on right and left sides. The movements must last up to 3 minutes.
