Does Your Child Have Alternatives To Orthodontic Headgear
If your child needs to undergo orthodontic treatment, you may also be wondering about headgear. For some patients, headgear can be an important aspect since these appliances support correct jaw growth and alignment. The main downside of headgear is that many of these appliances are worn partly outside the mouth with external components that use the chin, neck, and head as anchor points. The good news is that, depending on your child's malocclusion, your orthodontist may be able to use inconspicuous alternatives to garner the same results as headgear. Here are just three alternative appliances to headgear that might work for your child.
Herbst Appliances
Herbst appliances often work well for people with severe overbites. While headgear appliances are removable, the Herbst appliance is cemented to your child's teeth. The Herbst appliance is made up of an expander for the palate and metal cylinders that connect to molars in the upper and lower jaw. This appliance not only helps overbites, but it helps people with poor lower jaw growth by pulling the lower jaw forward and pushing the maxilla slightly back. Similar to band and wire changes for braces, the Herbst appliance may need changes to cylinders as your child's bite changes.
Twin-Block Appliance
As the name implies, the twin-block appliance is made up of two appliances—one for the upper jaw and one for the lower jaw. The appliances look similar to retainers, except that they also contain a resin component that interlocks when your child bites down. The interlocking component helps to guide the jaws forward in a more ideal position. The twin-block appliance is especially helpful for patients who struggle with mouth breathing or gummy smiles.
Mandibular Anterior Repositioning Appliance (MARA)
While other appliances apply force to the jaws to effect change, the MARA is a bit different because it requires patients to make functional changes to encourage proper growth. MARA appliances are fairly complicated and made up of horizontal metal arms that slide forward and down on L-shaped wires. These components usually attach to the upper and lower first molars. To be able to bite down, a patient has to push his or her lower jaw forward, otherwise, the metal arms won't slide off the L-shaped wire.
Like other orthodontic appliances, your child may have to avoid certain foods, like crunchy or sticky foods, and may have to use special brushes to properly clean the components. However, your child may adjust more easily to these appliances and prefer their aesthetics over other headgear options. Reach out to an orthodontist for more information.
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