Types of Appliances

Wearing elastics, or rubber bands, improves the fit of your upper and lower teeth. These appliances work far more efficiently when they’re worn as prescribed, so follow our instructions. 

The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device is an alternative to headgear that promotes growth in adolescents and helps to eliminate excessive overbites, improve the fit of teeth, and possibly prevent the need for jaw surgery.

Headgear is used to treat a patient’s overbite (protruding upper teeth) or underbite (protruding lower teeth). Headgear gently "pulls" on your teeth to restrict further forward growth of your upper teeth and jaw.

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.

The palatal expander widens your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. We 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 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 may be removable or fixed. They hold your teeth in their new, correct positions after your teeth have been straightened. We will instruct you on how to care for your retainer and how long you will wear it. Wearing your retainer as directed is crucial to prevent regression of your treatment.

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.

The MARA (Mandibular Anterior Repositioning Appliance) reduces overbite by encouraging the lower jaw forward and the upper molars backward. This fixed appliance is used for younger, growing children and is worn for about 12-15 months. Forsus Springs and the Carriere Distalizer appliance are sometimes used instead of a MARA.

The twin block appliance is unique because it involves two separate appliances: one for the upper arch and one for the lower arch. Twin block appliances work 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 involves fewer wires.