While braces and aligners are the stars of the show, a team of specialized appliances often works behind the scenes to create a perfectly aligned smile. These orthodontic tools play crucial roles in guiding jaw growth, correcting bite issues, and ensuring your final results are stable and beautiful. They are the secret weapons that help Dr. Rosenzweig achieve precise, healthy outcomes for our patients.
At Rosenzweig Orthodontics, we use a variety of advanced appliances to customize treatment for every individual in Central Oregon. Whether you visit us in Bend, Redmond, Burns and Sisters, we will always explain the purpose of each component of your treatment. This guide introduces some of the common appliances we use to perfect your smile.
Elastics (Rubber Bands)
Elastics are one of the most important tools for correcting a patient’s bite. These small, powerful rubber bands are strategically hooked onto your braces to create a gentle, consistent force that helps your upper and lower teeth fit together correctly. Think of them as the engine that powers major bite improvements.
Wearing your elastics exactly as prescribed by Dr. Rosenzweig is critical to your success. They only work when they are in your mouth, and inconsistent wear can significantly slow down your treatment progress. Diligent use of your rubber bands is one of the best ways you can take an active role in achieving your new smile on schedule.
Forsus™ Appliance
The Forsus™ Fatigue Resistant Device is a modern alternative to traditional headgear for correcting significant overbites in growing adolescents. This appliance consists of a small spring-loaded rod that connects the upper and lower braces, applying continuous light pressure to encourage the lower jaw to grow forward.
The main advantage of the Forsus appliance is that it works 24/7 without any effort from the patient. Since it is a fixed appliance, there’s nothing to remember to put in or take out. It is an effective tool for improving the fit of the teeth and can sometimes help patients avoid the need for corrective jaw surgery later in life.
Headgear
Headgear is a removable appliance used to address bite discrepancies that originate from the jaws. It is most often used to correct an overbite (where the upper jaw is too far forward) or an underbite (where the lower jaw is too far forward).
By applying gentle pressure, headgear guides the growth of the jaws into a more harmonious position. The success of headgear treatment is entirely dependent on patient cooperation. It must be worn for a specific number of hours each day, as directed by Dr. Rosenzweig, to be effective.
Herbst® Appliance
Similar to the Forsus, the Herbst® appliance is a highly effective tool for correcting large overbites in growing patients. It is a fixed appliance, meaning it is bonded to the back molars and works continuously to guide the lower jaw forward and move the upper molars back.
The Herbst appliance functions like a set of tiny hydraulic arms that gently hold the jaw in its correct position. By doing so, it encourages more balanced jaw growth over time. It is typically worn for about 12 to 15 months and is an excellent option for younger patients to make significant corrections while their jaws are still developing.
Palatal Expander
A narrow upper jaw can lead to issues like crowding, crossbites, and even breathing difficulties. A palatal expander is an appliance designed to widen the upper jaw, creating the space needed for teeth to align properly.
The expander fits in the roof of the mouth and applies gentle, outward pressure on the upper molars. Dr. Rosenzweig will provide a special key and instructions on how to perform small, periodic adjustments at home. Once the desired expansion is achieved, the appliance remains in place for several months to allow the bone to solidify in its new, wider position.
Positioners
As you near the end of your orthodontic treatment, a positioner may be used to achieve the final, detailed tooth movements. A positioner is a soft, removable appliance that looks like a mouthguard for both your upper and lower teeth.
You will be instructed to bite into the positioner and perform certain exercises for short periods throughout the day. With excellent cooperation, a positioner can help settle your bite into its ideal final position in just a few weeks.
Retainers
Your orthodontic journey doesn’t end the day your braces come off. Retainers are arguably the most important part of your treatment because they protect your investment for a lifetime. After your teeth are moved into their new positions, the surrounding bone and ligaments need time to stabilize. Retainers hold your teeth in their corrected alignment, preventing them from shifting back toward their old positions.
Retainers can be fixed (a permanent wire bonded behind your front teeth) or removable (a clear tray or a traditional wire-and-acrylic appliance). Wearing your retainer exactly as directed is crucial for maintaining your beautiful, hard-earned smile.
Separators or Spacers
Before we can place orthodontic bands (metal rings that fit around your back molars), we may need to create a small amount of space between those teeth. This is where separators, or spacers, come in.
Separators are tiny rubber doughnuts that are gently wedged between your back teeth for a few days before your banding appointment. They work by slightly pushing the teeth apart. While they are in, you should avoid sticky foods, flossing in that specific area, and using toothpicks to prevent them from falling out.