ALF - Advanced Lightwire Functional Appliance in New Canaan
What is the ALF device?
ALF (Advanced Lightwire Functional) is therapy that aims to improve the overall health, beauty and function for the patient while providing a gentle, simple, effective, and easy to wear family of dental appliances.
Developed by Dr. Darick Nordstrom, the ALF appliance delivers light forces to the teeth and gums with an exceptionally advanced design that 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.
ALF is a whole-body-and-mind approach aimed at improving overall health and performance in every realm.
ALF is an advanced, non-traditional orthodontic treatment that incorporates principles of cranial osteopathy and it uses a whole-body-and-mind advancement to achieve the desired results.
ALF promotes better spinal alignment, posture, occlusion, and TMJ health, while enhancing sensory processing, nervous system function, airway development, and arch and palate shape.
This comprehensive approach can lead to significant improvements in behavior and lifestyle for both adults and children. The ALF bio-modulates the autonomic nervous system, making it a highly effective treatment, particularly for children with sensory and nervous system disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD.
By aligning the facial, spinal, and cranial bones through cranial osteopathy principles, the ALF offers a non-traditional approach to improving bite and teeth alignment in children (from early childhood to early teens) without the need for traditional braces.
By focusing on the neuro- and viscera-cranium, the gentle action of the ALF appliance provides a safe sensory stimulus, promoting neurological regulation via the cranial nerves and autonomic nervous system. Patients wearing the ALF often experience significant changes in bite, body, brain, and behavior.
The ALF is the ultimate craniofacial development therapy, enhancing wellness by promoting proper facial development, tooth alignment, airway expansion, improved posture, and balanced sensory responses within the nervous system.
“With the insertion of the ALF appliance, we have seen seemingly unrelated health issues improve or completely resolve.” – Dr. Nordstrom
How does the ALF look?
The ALF is discreet, comfortable, and more hygienic than most dental appliances, making it easy to wear and maintain. Cosmetically, the appliance is relatively “invisible” as it gently wraps around the back of the teeth and is not visible from the outside.
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.
It’s one of the few devices that provides adequate space for the tongue and uniquely supports improved tongue function.
The tongue is nature’s best orthodontist and retainer. Without an ideal swallow, proper nasal breathing, and balanced cranial function, we often see issues like crowded teeth and misaligned faces, necks, and bodies.
Nature intended the tongue to consistently support the roof of the mouth. However, if a child doesn’t develop a mature swallow due to growth challenges, it can hinder optimal facial and neurological development.
Is ALF Suitable for Everyone?
Since ALF mainly targets the growth of the bone and muscles connected to the teeth, it could produce awe-inspiring results in children (as their bone and muscle growth is more pronounced). Potential risks to observe in your child’s mouth include lack of optimum growth that causes crowding in baby teeth or even losing more than one baby tooth when replacing a single adult tooth, mouth breathing, snoring, difficulty in biting or chewing food.
Adults can also benefit from ALF, as it comprehensively affects the overall health of an individual. It is often utilized in the treatment of imperfect facial symmetry, palatal contraction, congestion of the airways, severe misalignment of the teeth, TMJ disorder, poor posture, and issues with the jawbone alignment.
What is the commitment?
The commitment to ALF therapy indicates a willingness to participate fully with both time and finances. There is not a “typical treatment” for a child who needs interceptive care for growth or airway developmental support. There will be periods of “active” support with required office visits at 2–4-week intervals and periods of what we refer to as “maintenance” with less frequent visits.
Due to the delicate nature of the ALF appliance and variability of patient compliance and individual response to therapy, there is no guarantee for therapy outcomes. We commit to doing our very best to identify and prevent potential problems, but they do occur. The total costs of therapy are based on the needs of the patient and vary widely between patients.
Why do we provide ALF therapy?
Dr. Sarabia has been passionate about learning about Airway Dentistry when she was at a conference and heard Dr. Zaghi’s talk about tongue ties back in 2019 and was able to identify a tongue tie in her own son. At the time Benjamin was a little over a year old and still breastfeeding, only then she understood why her breastfeeding journey had been so difficult. Taking every chance to learn as much as possible about the effects of tongue-ties led her to the science of Myofunctional Therapy. This is where she first learned of all the ways tongue-tie and other early indicators can affect development and growth beyond the breastfeeding years. Problems include sleep disordered breathing and airway issues. The ALF appliance addresses many of these problems in young children. Having had her own child develop OSA, enlarged tonsils/adenoids, mouth breathing and airway issues, she knew she could help by implementing the use of the ALF appliance in her practice.
We're Here to Help You
If you have any questions regarding the ALF - Advanced Lightwire Functional Appliancery in New Canaan services we provide, then please call our office at 203-966-5313 and we will be happy to assist you.