Thanks for sharing this! Her Sue Lee Dentometric Appliance (SLDA) looks like a more intense version of an ALF. Some of the cases she presents are impressive, and I can imagine how this could achieve some good dentoalveolar expansion and improve the shape of the arches. There are probably many cases where this type of less-invasive strategy would be preferable. However, she is dismissive of MARPE generally or other strategies to disarticulate the suture, warning that they also cause separation in the nasal cavity (as if it is undesirable). I think widening the nasal passages is a goal in many cases (like my own) with airway resistance at both the level of the nose and the posterior tongue during sleep. This is why Breathe Right Strips and nasal dilators can help reduce snoring. I also suspect that skeletal expansion through suture separation would have more of an impact on external facial form than reshaping the arches with devices like this SLDA or ALF.

Posted by: Apollo

Thanks for sharing this! Her Sue Lee Dentometric Appliance (SLDA) looks like a more intense version of an ALF. Some of the cases she presents are impressive, and I can imagine how this could achieve some good dentoalveolar expansion and improve the shape of the arches. There are probably many cases where this type of less-invasive strategy would be preferable. However, she is dismissive of MARPE generally or other strategies to disarticulate the suture, warning that they also cause separation in the nasal cavity (as if it is undesirable). I think widening the nasal passages is a goal in many cases (like my own) with airway resistance at both the level of the nose and the posterior tongue during sleep. This is why Breathe Right Strips and nasal dilators can help reduce snoring. I also suspect that skeletal expansion through suture separation would have more of an impact on external facial form than reshaping the arches with devices like this SLDA or ALF.

Yeah I agree. Sutural disarticulation is the main goal for me as well but in the meanwhile while we wait for Mse and whatnot to arrive in Portugal these sort of appliances may be able to really help you gain those extra mms for a better and more confortable oral posture. 

What's the price tag on SLDA appliance? 

@roflcopters @apollo 

So...I had a dream last night about orthodontics.  I usually don’t remember my dreams so well.  LOL  But here’s the thing I realized.  SLDA may change the occlusal plane.  So..that is something to monitor. You want to still have a good plane, I think???  I wonder if the palate is improved, but then teeth are extruded/intruded in kind?  I’m not entirely sure.

My daughter has been doing treatment with a cosmetic dentist (epigenetic ortho) for about 1.5 years...started with something similar to the DNA appliance and he now wants to switch her to the SLDA. She has just a little more expansion to go. It is brand new, so I'm nervous, but I don't know what else to do. Should I trust him? He is really big into myofunctional therapy and seems very knowledgeable about arch development and airway health. (Side note: I know the biobloc is the gold standard, but the closest orthotropics provider is 6 hours away. Took me ages to find the dentist she is currently going to that values airway and arch development). Please advise.

Posted by: Labcab987

My daughter has been doing treatment with a cosmetic dentist (epigenetic ortho) for about 1.5 years...started with something similar to the DNA appliance and he now wants to switch her to the SLDA. She has just a little more expansion to go. It is brand new, so I'm nervous, but I don't know what else to do. Should I trust him? He is really big into myofunctional therapy and seems very knowledgeable about arch development and airway health. (Side note: I know the biobloc is the gold standard, but the closest orthotropics provider is 6 hours away. Took me ages to find the dentist she is currently going to that values airway and arch development). Please advise.

Don't be worried. It sounds like she's in good hands and he knows what he's doing! As well as having a well informed mom..! That's gold compared to what everyone else has. You're doing the right thing and I'd say she's in for a good drive. 

I'm not going to tell you what you should or not do as I'm not a medical expert but having in mind she isn't having extractions and the doctor is airway focused, I wouldn't worry much with it, other than letting your daughter know she should focus on body and oral posture to make sure she both maintains and develops well while she is young. Having just the appliances working isn't enough if she lacks proper function. Make sure she walks upright with her chest up looking at the world like she wants to eat it. 

From what I've searched online about the slda appliance and Dr Sue Lee, I've got nothing but good feedback. Like Progress said up there it seems like SLDA is a stronger version of Alf, which is proven to get really nice results. 

Wow. Thank you so much for responding. I think I'll just go ahead and trust her dentist and give it a shot. Thanks again! Real quick though, what did you mean when you said this: "Sutural disarticulation is the main goal for me as well"? Is this a good thing and does the SLDA prevent it or something?