Types of Appliances

Wearing braces can help you achieve the beautiful smile you have always wanted. However, in order for your braces to work successfully, you may have to use several different appliances along with them. 

Here are a few appliances your orthodontist may have you use during your treatment.

Elastics

Although braces can straighten your teeth, they can’t correct bite problems by themselves. That’s what elastics are for. Also referred to as rubber bands, elastics are designed to improve the fit of your upper and lower teeth.

Forsus™

The Forsus appliance can be used instead of headgear to correct severe overbites. It uses gentle force to improve the fit of your teeth and reduce the need of jaw surgery.

Headgear

Headgear is designed for orthodontic patients who suffer from an overbite or underbite. The appliance pulls on your teeth to prevent forward growth of your upper teeth and jaw.

Herbst® Appliance

The Herbst appliance is designed to correct overbite by helping the lower jaw grow forward and the upper molars to grow backward. Younger children are the only ones who typically wear this appliance.

Palatal Expander

Just as the name suggests, palatal expanders expand your upper jaw by putting pressure on your upper molars every time you make an adjustment. Once you have achieved the ideal expansion, your orthodontist will have you wear this appliance for several more months to solidify the expansion.

Positioners

Positioners are the final step in your orthodontic treatment. They must be worn between four and eight weeks.

Retainers

Once you get your braces off, you will have to wear retainers for a few months to help your teeth adjust to their new position. You can wear removable or fixed retainers. If you opt for removable retainers, remember to put them back in your mouth right after you get done eating or brushing and flossing your teeth.

Separators

Separators are small rubber rings that are positioned between your teeth to push them apart, allowing orthodontic bands to be placed at your next appointment.  Avoid candy and other sticky foods, as they can remove the separators from your mouth.

Twin Block Appliance

The twin block appliance is designed to help create an advanced lower jaw position. Patients must wear the appliance full-time, except when they are brushing or flossing their teeth. Since the twin block appliance doesn’t use many wires, it is more comfortable to wear.