Our office, powaybraces, uses the Herbst appliance to correct difficult bite problems. The newest version of this appliance is so small that all of our patients say its really comfortable, easy to eat with, and is not visible when talking.
Correction of dental protrusion, upper front teeth sticking out, is often difficult requiring patients to wear headgear. Headgear has been used by Orthodontists for decades and works well.
Problem is, children for the most part, find it very difficult to wear, uncomfortable, and ultimately do not wear it enough to achieve full correction of the bite problem. Orthodontists then must resort to rubber band wear to achieve a reasonable result. Again, this requires a tremendous amount of patient cooperation and diligence.
An additional benefit to the new smaller herbst appliance is a reduction of treatment time. We are finding correction of these difficult bites can be achieved in 18-20 months instead of the typical 24-30 months with headgear. This alone is remarkable.
A final benefit to the new smaller herbst appliance is we can reduce the number of appointments lessening the intrusion into your busy life. During bite correction with the new herbst appliance, appointments are typically scheduled every 3 months apart. Since this bite corrector is cemented and works full time every day, the movement and correction is far faster than with headgear. And absolutely no help is required by the patient in having to wear anything – especially a headgear. This is the best of all worlds!
All of us at Dr. Thomas' orthodontic office wish you and your family a wonderful 2009 Holiday Season.
