Orthodontic Appliances

One of the most common problems orthodontists treat is the discrepancy that occurs when the upper teeth protrude beyond the lower. Herbst Ordinarily, when we see a patient with the upper teeth protruding, we tend to think that the upper jaw and teeth are too far forward; but, more often than not, this condition is due to a small lower jaw that is further back than it should be. With these patients, we would like to encourage the lower jaw to “catch up” in growth, and the Herbst appliance helps this happen.
At first, your mouth will feel full and speaking may be awkward. But if you practice reading aloud, your ordinary speech will return quickly. You may also notice more saliva than normal, but this will decrease as you become accustomed to the appliance.

Digit Habit

Sucking is a natural reflex that relaxes and comforts babies and toddlers. Children usually cease thumb sucking when the permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. Typically, children stop between the ages of 2 and 4 years. Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of primary teeth can cause improper growth of the mouth and misalignment of the teeth. If you notice prolonged and/or vigorous thumb (or finger) sucking behavior in your child, talk to your orthodontist.

Tongue Thrust

This appliance prevents the tongue from pushing forward against the front teeth or protruding between them. It trains the tongue to stay back from the front teeth and retrains the tongue to move in a proper position.

The Carriere Motion Appliance is used to help limit extractions and correct an over bite. The Carriere Motion Appliance allows for greater comfort and shorter treatments! The appliance is used at the beginning of treatment to help correct the patient’s bite.

Headgear is often used to correct an excessive overbite. This is done by placing pressure against the upper teeth and jaw, slowing growth of the upper jaw allowing the lower jaw to “catch up.”The severity of the problem determines the length of time headgear needs to be worn. The key to success with your headgear appliance is consistency. Headgear must be worn a certain number of hours per day, and if not, it must be made up the following day. A facemask is used to protract, or pull the upper jaw forward in those individuals with an underbite. This accomplished by attaching the facemask to an intra-oral appliance, such as an expander or Nance appliance, with elastics. Headgear/facemasks should never be worn while playing sports and should also be removed while eating or brushing your teeth.

The Distal Jet Appliance is a fixed (non-removable) appliance that is placed on the palate and is attached to the upper teeth. The Distal Jet, as the name implies, distalizes. This appliance pushes the upper molars back creating room for erupting teeth and/or a place to move the front teeth back, eliminating an overbite. The Distal Jet Appliance uses a solid track wire and two sets of locking screws on each side. The appliance is self-limiting by design.

The Nance Appliance is used to hold the upper molar position and to prevent upper molars from rotating or moving. ApplianceSome patients wear the Nance Appliance while they are awaiting their bicuspids to grow into place. The appliance is made of two bands that are cemented onto the first molars and a wire spans the roof of the mouth from one molar to the other. An acrylic pad or “button” covers the wire that touches the roof of your mouth directly behind your front teeth. Do not eat sticky, chewy candy as it can loosen your appliance.

Interproximal recontouring refers to a procedure in which Dr. Kesselman will reshape your teeth by sculpting the sides of the teeth creating room for alignment. This can create space where minimal space is needed and extractions would lead to excessive space creation.

The palatal expander “expands” (or widens) your upper jaw. Dr. Kesselman and the team at Riverside Orthodontics will instruct you about when and how to adjust your expander.

A Quad Helix is similar to a palate expander, and is attached to the upper and/or lower jaws to allow for more room to straighten the teeth. Unlike a palate expander, no key is required to activate a quad-helix due to the use of four active springs that work to widen the arch.