Functional Appliances
We are a family-centered clinic, focusing on early proactive intervention.
Because your kid still has cute little “milk” teeth doesn’t signify that he/she is too young for orthodontic care. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends planning your kid’s first orthodontic visit at age 7 .This is the ideal time to have your child’s teeth and jaw development evaluated – in case early intervention is required, it can save tons of hassle as a teen or an adult.
It is a custom-made device for each little patient and adapted to the type of orthodontic correction. The appliance aims to stimulate either jaw growth and direction and improve how the upper and lower jaws meet and function together. A functional appliance is most effective during childhood and before puberty age while kids' jaws are still growing and plays an essential role in achieving a healthy, functional, and well-aligned bite at early age.
Remember that an early diagnosis of any orthodontic issues during early childhood is ideal as we can quickly intercept the issue with a primary phase of orthodontic treatment using a functional appliance while the patient is still growing.
- Create enough space for the proper alignment of teeth in the dental arch
- Enhance bite function by correcting malocclusions : cross bite, open bite and deep overbites.
- Guide and boost proper natural jaw growth during child’s development.
- Reduce the chances for more invasive treatments later on , like teeth removals or orthographic surgery.
- Improve overall jaw function, phonetics, chewing efficiency, posture ( reducing stress on TMJ) and overall aesthetics facial appearance.
- Reeducate tongue position and improve facial harmony in the shape of the kid’s face
Bite Plates
Correction deep overbite and help reposition lower jaw
Twin Block Appliance
A removable appliance made of two parts (one for the upper jaw and one for the lower jaw) that helps correct overbites by encouraging the lower jaw to move forward.
Palatal Expanders
This custom-made appliance -- either fixed ( RPE by hyrax) or removable is used to gently widen the upper over time.The expander is an amazing growth-stimulating device that :
- Correct a narrow palate and hence, improve nasal breathing by creating more space in the nasal passage and airway and reduce forward head posture that can affect spine and back/neck/shoulder muscles.
- Widen dental arches and jaw ( as the two haves bones of upper jaw is not yet sutured until, puberty ) to improve teeth alignement and create space for crowded teeth and future teeth to erupt.
- Early fix bite issues as cross bites.
Add-on Features to meet the child’s needs:
The expander can be combined with a bite plate or a tongue repellent to reeducate the kid to reposition his tongue correctly and prevent tongue thrust or thumb sucking
Easy to activate: The expander is attached to the upper teeth and gradually widened using a small key. Over time, the upper jaw expands, and the appliance is removed once the desired width is achieved.
Fixed or Removable Expanders for Lower Arch:
Custom-made appliances can be used to widen the lower dental arch and hence, improve alignment or create space for teeth.
Dental Arch Brackets and Wires ( “2x4”):
Orthodontic brackets and wires can be designed to gradually widen space and reshape the arch in order to correct teeth alignment issues.
KID Aligners with Arch Expansion and Alignment:
Angel Aligner KIDs can incorporate great expansion over time to adjust the arch shape while straightening teeth. it also integrates early use of elastics to guide jaw growth direvtion .
Myofunctional Appliances:
Pre- orthodontic trainers are primarily used for early kid intervention ( mixed denition of growing child of ages 5-10), focusing on correcting myofunctional habits and muscle dysfunction —mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, and improper swallowing—to address the root causes of malocclusion (rather than just teeth alignment)- especially class II deep overbite.
Those myofunctional trainers also can guide jaw growth, promote nasal breathing, educate proper tongue position and muscle function, which can help improve the shape of the dental arch and directly impacts jaw and face development.
Ready to explore your options?
Book your visit to discuss your different orthodontic option, and obtain a clear timeline and cost breakdown. Your most confident smile can be both healthy and beautifully aligned. Let’s make a plan that works for you.