Types of Appliances

To successfully complete the orthodontic treatment plan, patients must work together with Dr. Austin. Your teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if you consistently wear the elastics (rubber bands), headgear, or other appliances Dr. Austin has prescribed.

Elastics (Rubber Bands)

Wearing elastics (rubber bands) improves the fit of your upper and lower teeth. Wear your rubber bands as instructed and remember that the rubber bands insure that your treatment will progress efficiently.

Expansion Appliance

An appliance that is cemented inside your mouth to help widen the size of your jaw.

Facemask

A mask that covers the patient’s forehead and chin. It is used to help correct anterior crossbite (underbite). The patient connects a rubber band from a hook on an expander in the mouth to a hook on the facemask to help bring the upper jaw forward.

Custom Facemask

A Facemask that is made from an exact impression of a patient’s face. The patient can also customize the color and design of the forehead and chin portion of their mask.

Headgear

Headgear is used to treat patients whose teeth are in an “overbite”, with the upper jaw being too far forward relative to the lower teeth, or an “underbite” with the lower teeth being too far forward relative to the upper teeth. Headgear gently reduces forward growth of your upper jaw to establish a better relationship with your lower jaw.

Herbst® Appliance

The Herbst appliance reduces overbite by encouraging the lower jaw forward and the upper jaw backward. This fixed appliance is used mostly for younger, growing children and is worn for about 12-15 months.

MARA Appliance

A Mandibular anterior repositioning appliance. An intraoral appliance that helps encourage lower jaw growth.

Palatal Expander

A palatal expander “expands” (widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. Dr. Austin will instruct you as to 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.

Pendulum Appliance

A combination palatal expansion appliance and bite corrector.

Positioners

Positioners complete the final tooth movements in your orthodontic treatment. With your full cooperation, you should only need to wear your 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. Dr. Austin 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. Click here for more information 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 can 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.