For Balance and Structure
Setting Things Straight With Oral Appliances
We have a specialization in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. While most patients are familiar with how orthodontic techniques are used to straighten teeth, dentofacial orthopedics is a less commonly understood, but highly effective treatment.
As practitioners of dentofacial orthopedics, ARCH orthodontists are able to focus on the guidance of growth and development of facial bones to help assist healthy tooth movement. This process mainly occurs during early childhood, but the treatment can be adapted for adults too.
How Does the Treatment Work:
This form of treatment involves the use of appliances such as Occluso-guides, Night-guides, and Habit appliances as a means of addressing abnormalities or deficiencies in both the facial bone and jaw structure. Dentofacial orthopedics are also often used either in preparation for further orthodontic treatment, or in conjunction with braces. One of the greatest things about many of these appliances is that they are usually worn only at home and/or are hardly noticeable…other than the incredibly positive effect they have on the growth and development of the patient.
Since Dentofacial orthopedics involves developing bones of those who are younger in order to maximize space, as well as coordinate jaw discrepancies, (as opposed to tooth discrepancies), we often use expansion appliances to widen the palate, as well as the lower teeth. In some cases, we use a “Reverse Pull Headgear” to enhance the forward jaw growth of the upper jaw, when it is lagging behind the lower, or the lower is growing faster than the upper.
