Types of Appliances
Elastics (Rubber Bands)
Rubber bands or elastics are used to improve the fit of your upper and lower teeth. To optimize their effectiveness, it is important to wear your elastics as prescribed by Dr. New.
Forsus™
The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device is prescribed to adolescents who require jaw growth. The Forsus helps to eliminate excessive overbites, improve the fit of teeth, and can even prevent the need for jaw surgery.
Headgear
Headgear is a type of appliance that is prescribed to correct an overbite or underbite. Headgear works by pulling your teeth to restrict the forward growth of your upper teeth and jaw.
Herbst® Appliance
The Herbst® appliance has the objective of reducing an overbite by encouraging the lower jaw forward and the upper molars backward. This is a fixed appliance and it is used mostly for younger, growing children. The typical treatment timeis 12-15 months.
Palatal Expander
The palatal expander works to widen your upper jaw by exerting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. You will adjust your expander at home by following Dr. New’s instructions. When the desired level of expansion is reached, you will still wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent regression.
Positioners
Positioners work to fine-tune your smile by completing the final tooth movements required by your orthodontic treatment plan. If you wear your positioner appliance as instructed, you should only need to wear it for 4-8 weeks.
Retainers
Retainers come in removable and fixed varieties and work by holding your teeth in their new, correct positions. Dr. New will instruct you to wear your retainer for the time necessary for your bone to harden around the teeth and therefore prevent regression.
Separators or Spacers
Separators are little rubber doughnuts that are 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. Take care of your separators by avoiding sticky foods, toothpicks, or floss.
Twin Block Appliance
A twin block appliance uses two separate appliances that work together to lower the jaw position. One appliance is placed on the upper arch and the other one on the lower arch. This appliance is comfortable and preferred over other jaw-correcting appliances because it utilizes fewer pesky wires. The appliance is meant to be worn full-time including while eating. However, you can remove your appliance to brush and floss your teeth.
If you wearyour twin block appliance properly, youwill be rewarded with a broad, beautiful smile, proper jaw function, improved profile, and a stable and healthy temporomandibular joint.
3171 Chili Ave #200, Rochester, NY 14624