Appliances

This functional appliance consists of two bite blocks, upper and lower, which interlock at 70°. Twin Blocks™ are designed so the mandible is held in a protrusive position. This appliance is ideal in cases with large overjets when the mandible is recessive.

This is a comfortable appliance to wear as patients rarely have problems speaking or eating with the appliance.

It can be used in combination with vertical elastics to correct deep overbite.

The activation of the midline screws assist with the transverse development. Since 80% of Class II malocclusions have deficient mandibles, the Twin Block™ is a must for the treatment of the majority of Class II cases for patients under age 11 who are good co-operators.

The new MARA™ (Mandibular Anterior Repositioning Appliance) is ideal for non-compliant patients with Class II skeletal malocclusions and deficient mandibles.

It is well tolerated by the patient since the attachments are soldered to stainless steel crowns on the first molars. It is a fixed-functional appliance that is worn 24 hours per day which virtually guarantees success.

The MARA™ appliance is the appliance of choice for patients over age 11. Since 70% of all malocclusions are Class II and the vast majority have deficient mandibles, this is the ideal fixed appliance for the treatment of Class II skeletal malocclusions.

The anterior sagittal is an upper removable orthodontic appliance that is used in the mixed or permanent dentition to correct anterior crossbites. The bite may be opened either with occlusal pads on the appliance or with composite buildups on the lower posterior teeth (primary molars if possible).

The primary function is to move the upper incisors forward to correct the anterior crossbite.

The appliance cannot be used if the upper incisors are flared. Ideally the anterior sagittal has 4 Adam’s clasps for retention and 2 side screws with the cuts in the acrylic distal to the upper lateral incisors.

The anterior sagittal is adjusted twice per week to avoid any discomfort for the patient. Early orthodontic treatment can correct early Class III malocclusions and prevent more serious and more costly procedures later on. Mothers want their children treated early in an effort to avoid orthognathic surgery when they are teenagers.

The posterior sagittal is a removable orthodontic appliance that can be used on the upper or lower arches primarily to distalize the molars.

Ideally the posterior sagittal has 4 clasps and a side screw for every molar that needs to be distalized. The cut in the acrylic is mesial to the molar being distalized. This is an ideal appliance to be utilized if there is an arch length discrepancy and the first molar has drifted mesially and possibly blocked out a bicuspid or a cuspid.

The posterior sagittal is adjusted twice per week to avoid any discomfort to the patient. The utilization of the posterior sagittal appliance can make space for the bicuspid and cuspids therefore preventing the need for the extraction of permanent teeth.

This is one of the most popular fixed arch expansion appliances for mixed and permanent dentition. Since it is fixed, cooperation is guaranteed.

The hyrax appliance consists of a midline hyrax screw, first molar bands, mesial rests on the first primary molars or first bicuspids usually. These mesial rests must be secured with flowable composite for added retention.

The hyrax is adjusted slowly, twice per week. After the desired amount of expansion has been achieved the appliance must be left in for an additional 6 months to avoid a relapse.

This is the most popular fixed appliance to be used mainly in mixed dentition to help develop the upper arch to normal width as well as to use a fixed crib to stop the tongue or thumb habit. To prevent habits, particularly at night, when the patient is asleep, you need a fixed appliance to successfully correct the habits.

This appliance consists of a hyrax screw, a habit crib, first molar bands, mesial rests on the first primary molars. These mesial rests must be secured with flowable composite for added retention.

The hyrax with a crib must be adjusted slowly twice per week. The crib should be left in for 5 months in order to correct the tongue or thumb habit. Usually the open bite will be corrected as the incisors will erupt when the habit has been corrected.

After 5 months, remove the crib but leave in the appliance for 6 months after the last adjustment of the hyrax screw to prevent a relapse.

The new Tandem™ appliance is ideal for Class III skeletal patients in mixed dentition who have retrognathic maxillas and normal mandibles.

The upper part is fixed and consists of a Maxillary Banded Hyrax Appliance with two hooks for Class III elastics mesial to the first primary molars.

The lower portion is similar to a removable splint with a lower bow which inserts into a Buccal tube in the acrylic in the area of the first permanent molars.

The lower bow has hooks for the Class II elastics. Correction of a Class III malocclusion in mixed dentition can minimize the possibility of orthognathic surgery.

This popular fixed functional appliance consists of an incisal ramp located lingual to the maxillary anteriors, connected to the maxillary first molar bands via two .050 connector wires.

Patients compliance is excellent and this appliance is ideal for mandibular advancement when the overjet is less than 4 mm. Deep overbite correction is made easier with the Rick-A-Nator and vertical elastics.

It dramatically improves the patient’s profile and health of the TMJ.

When worn in combination with a straight wire appliance, treatment time is significantly shortened.