Types of Appliances

Patient cooperation is key to a successful treatment outcome. The teeth and jaws can only move toward and remain in their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the appliances and elastics (rubber bands) as directed.

The following paragraphs describe some of the types of appliances that may be used during your treatment.

Rubber Bands

Elastics (rubber bands) are used to improve your bite, that is, to correct the way your upper and lower teeth fit together. Dr. Pickard will advise you how and how long to wear the rubber bands. Not surprisingly, rubber bands are only effective when they are worn as prescribed.

Separators (or Spacers)

Separators are little rubber rings that are temporarily placed between your back teeth to push them apart so that orthodontic bands may be placed at your next appointment (usually the following day). Care should be taken to make sure separators remain in place---this means avoiding sticky foods and floss in the affected area.

Palatal Expander

The palatal expander widens the upper arch by putting gentle pressure on the upper molars and mid-palatal suture. Dr. Pickard will advise you when and how to adjust your child's expander. The appliance is activated for four to six weeks. Once the desired expansion is achieved, you will continue to wear the appliance for several more months to stabilize the result and to prevent relapse.

Headgear

Headgears apply a force to the upper jaw. For patients with excess overjet (upper teeth too far forward of the lower teeth), the headgear is used to restrict additional forward growth of the teeth and jaw. Reverse-pull headgear, used for patients with underjet (upper teeth behind the lower teeth), exerts a protraction force to move the upper jaw forward.

Herbst® Appliance

This Herbst appliance reduces overjet 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 nine to twelve months.

Positioners

Positioners are used to complete final tooth movements in some orthodontic cases. With full cooperation, a patient should only need to wear the positioner appliance for 4-8 weeks.

Removable Appliances

Dr. Pickard utilizes a wide variety of appliances in first phase treatment of patients in the mixed dentition (primary and permanent teeth). These appliances, as their name indicates, can be removed for eating and cleaning, and therefore require a high degree of patient cooperation.

Retainers

Retainers may be removable or fixed. They hold the teeth in their newly corrected positions at the end of active treatment. We will advise you how to wear and how to care for your retainer. The retention period is as important as the active period of treatment because it prevents relapse.