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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.
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 4-8 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.
Visit the retainers page to learn more on how to care for your retainer »
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.
Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs)
Temporary Anchorage Device (TAD’s) are used by orthodontists to overcome limitations of traditional orthodontic treatment and perform difficult tooth movement predictably. TADs are placed between the roots of the teeth with use of topical or local anesthesia.
Forsus appliances
Forsus appliances are used in conjunction with braces to normalize any discrepancies between the upper and lower jaws. This appliance is not removable by the patient.
This appliance postures the patient’s lower jaw in a forward position, helping to eliminate excessive overbites, improve the fit of teeth and possibly prevent the need for jaw surgery. The major advantage of this system over headgear or elastics is that its effectiveness does not rely on patient cooperation.
