An Orthodontic Appliance is a device worn to alter the growth and placement of your teeth or jaw. There are many types of Orthodontic Appliances suited to many needs! “Orthodontic Appliance” can refer to everything from “expanders” worn inside the roof of the mouth, to “headgear” that attaches to braces and is worn outside of the mouth. Orthodontic Appliances all work by guiding the growth of your jaw and teeth. Orthodontic Appliances are also useful in creating space for teeth, moving teeth, or keeping teeth in one position. An Orthodontic Appliance would also be appropriate in correcting an overbite, for example. There are three main types of Orthodontic Appliance:

• Active
• Passive
• Functional

Active appliances use force to change the placement and relationship of the teeth to one another. Functional appliances work similarly, but actually stimulate muscle responses from the area that lead to an orthodontic change over time. Passive appliances are usually only worn at night after your fixed appliance has been removed.

Orthodontic Appliances can be fixed or removable. Your orthodontist will help you decide which type of appliance will suit your needs. Some examples include a fixed metal wire that attaches to braces, or a removable retainer worn 24 hours a day but eventually only at night. However, the kind of appliance your doctor recommends will be heavily dependent on severity and circumstance of your individual case. Here is a list of the most common Orthodontic Appliances:

• Elastics or Rubber Bands
• Headgear
• The Herbst Appliance
• Palatal Expander
• Retainers
• Separators or Spacers