Dental Appliances

In addition to braces, other appliances may be used during orthodontic treatment, including:

• Face Mask – Used when the upper jaw and/or teeth need to be brought forward.

• Functional Appliance – A “removable” retainer worn to redirect jaw growth.

• Headgear – Typically worn to move the upper molars back or hold the upper jaw back, slowing its growth, while the lower jaw is free to grow forward.

• Herbst Appliance – A fixed functional appliance available in a variety of designs to achieve multifunctional treatment goals such as expansion, space opening or closure or high angle open bite intrusion.

• Lingual Arch – Fits on the inside of the lower teeth, from molar to molar, as a space maintainer.

• Rapid Palatal Expander – This special appliance widens the roof of the mouth, allowing room for crowded teeth to grow naturally and/or expands the upper jaw to more closely fit the lower jaw.

• Temporary Anchorage Devices (TAD’s) – Tiny anchor-like implants used as a fixed point from which the teeth can move.

• Twin Block Appliance – Appliance used to correct some overbites.