Orthodontic Appliances

Space maintainers allow for a favorable eruption of a permanent tooth when a primary tooth needs to be removed well before it’s normal exfoliation date

Habit breaking appliances

A habit breaking appliance is one that can help correct habits such as a tongue thrust or thumb sucking. This appliance is one that can reduce or eliminate the need for jaw surgery. Treatment options should be discussed with a pediatric dentist or an orthodontist as soon as a problem is detected.

• Tongue crib

is an orthodontic tool which has similar wiring as braces, but it not fixed. This appliance lies inside the oral cavity and hangs on two rings. The rings are attached to the back of the mouth, so the tongue crib doesn’t move. This action also helps prevents the tongue from pushing against the teeth and causing additional issues.

Types of Orthodontic Appliances

• Face mask

The Facemask Appliance is a one-piece unit comprised of a stainless steel framework (central core) with adjustable forehead and chin pads as well as a “cross piece” that attaches directly to an intra-oral (in the mouth) appliance to bring the upper jaw forward and downward. The Facemask Appliance is used in patients that present with a “Class III malocclusion” or “underbite”. The body does most of its daily growth roughly between 6 PM and 6 AM—the greatest degree of Facemask wear between those hours tends to yield the best results. Placing the appliance before or immediately following dinner up until snack/bathing and then all night will optimize results.

• Bionator

The Bionator I is a removable functional appliance used to treat patients with a Class II malocclusion and a deep bite. While the appliance holds the mandible in a protruded position with acrylic, there is no coverage of the posterior teeth. Instead there are fluted channels angled facially cut into the acrylic that guide the eruption of posterior teeth.

• 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 eliminate excessive overbites, improve the fit of teeth, and possibly prevent the need for jaw surgery.

• 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 restrict further forward growth of your upper teeth and jaw.

• Herbst® Appliance

The Herbst® appliance reduces overbite by encouraging the lower jaw forward and the upper molars backward. This fixed appliance is used mostly for younger, growing children and is worn for about 12-15 months.

• 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 you achieve the desired expansion, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent regression.

• Positioners

Positioners complete the final tooth movements in your orthodontic treatment. With your full cooperation, you should only need to wear the positioner appliance for four to eight weeks.

• 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.

• 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 during your next appointment. The separators will be removed before we place the bands. Separators do not mix well with sticky foods, toothpicks, or floss.

• Twin Block Appliance

The twin block appliance is unique from other functional appliances, as it involves two separate appliances (one for the upper arch and one for the lower arch) working together to create an advanced lower jaw position. This patient-friendly appliance is worn full time, including while eating, though it is removable for easy hygiene. It is also more comfortable than other jaw-correcting appliances, as it is made out of smooth acrylic and utilizes fewer wires. The result of using a twin block appliance is a broad, beautiful smile, proper jaw function, improved profile, and a stable and healthy temporomandibular joint.

• Fixed retainer

The reality is that a fixed retainer is a thin wire that is attached to the back of the lower or upper front teeth. Our orthodontists use a bonding glue that is similar to what we use to attach braces brackets.

• Removable retainer

Removable appliances are sometimes used prior to a fixed appliance. Patients will often incorrectly refer to an active removable appliance as a ‘retainer’. At the completion of any active treatment, there is a period of retention for which retainers are made

• Bite plate

In general, bite plates are used at the beginning of treatment to help correct a “deep bite” or open bite. Bite Plates use an acrylic plane on either the anterior or posterior teeth to help reposition the jaw or prevent bruxism. Elite Orthodontics offers both removable Bite Plates, or Fixed Bite Plates.