Types of Appliances
Elastics (Rubber Bands)
Wearing elastics (or rubber bands) improves the fit of your upper and lower teeth. Wear rubber bands as instructed, and remember that the rubber bands work far more efficiently if they're worn as prescribed.
Forsus™
The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device is an alternative to headgear which promotes growth in adolescents, helping to correct overbites and improve the fit of teeth. This appliance works best when used to correct modest overbites.
Headgear
Headgear is used to treat patients whose teeth are in an overbite, with the upper jaw forward of the lower jaw, or an underbite with the lower jaw forward of the upper jaw. Headgear gently "pulls" on your teeth to redirect the growth of your upper teeth and jaw.
Herbst® Appliance
The Herbst® appliance reduces large overbites by redirecting jaw growth and providing tooth movement. This fixed appliance is used for growing patients and is worn for approximately 9-14 months depending on the amount of correction needed.
Palatal Expander
The palatal expander "expands" (or widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. Your orthodontist will instruct you about when and how to adjust your expander. When the desired expansion is attained, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent regression.
Positioners
Positioners can be used to complete the final tooth movements in your orthodontic treatment. With your good cooperation, you should only need to wear the positioner appliance for 2-6 months.
Retainers
Retainers may be removable or fixed. They hold your teeth in their new, correct positions after your teeth have been straightened. Your orthodontist will instruct you on how to care for your retainer and about the duration of the wear. Wearing your retainer as directed is crucial to prevent regression of your treatment. Should you lose your retainer, contact us immediately to schedule an apppointment for a replacement.
Separators or Spacers
Separators are little rubber doughnuts that may be placed between your teeth to push them apart so that orthodontic bands may be placed. The separators will be removed before we place the bands.