Braces
Pendulum
Palatal Expander
Herbst Appliance
Lower Lingual Holding Arch
Spring Aligner
Tongue Crib
Thumb Crib
Face Mask

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Face Mask

The face mask is used to correct skeletal imbalances where the lower jaw (mandible) is in front of the upper jaw (maxillae). This correction occurs do to a combined restriction of mandibular growth and an enhancement of maxillary growth. The face mask will attach with rubber bands to the palatal expander. With the sutures mobilized by the expander, the face mask will be used to pull the upper jaw forward and correct the skeletal imbalance of the jaws. The face mask will be worn for 12-15 hours a day until an over-correction of the bite has been achieved (approximately six to nine months).

Palatal Expander

The upper jaw bone (maxillae) is made up of two bones connected by a suture in the middle. This suture does not close until the early teenage years. Therefore, the palatal expander can be used to widen the upper jaw bones to correct crowding, arch constriction, and cross bites.

This appliance will be turned once a day for a prescribed amount of turns. During this process a gap will open between the two front teeth as the suture is widened. This gap will close by itself as soon as the expansion is completed. After expansion, the expander must stay in place for 6 months for the upper jaw bones to grow back together and form a new suture.

Retainer

After the correction of the under bite, an upper retainer will be worn for two to three years (full time for the first nine months and nights only thereafter).