The Herbst Appliance – San Antonio Orthodontist

One of the most common problems orthodontics treat is the discrepancy that occurs when the upper teeth protrude beyond the lower. Ordinarily, when we see a patient with the upper teeth protruding, we tend to think that the upper jaw and teeth are too far forward; but, more often than not, this condition is due to a small lower jaw that is further back than it should be. With these patients, we would like to encourage the lower jaw to catch up in growth. Corrective appliances, such as the Herbst® appliance, help this happen.

Patients prefer the Herbst® appliance because it makes more compliance-driven techniques, like headgear, a thing of the past.

Even though the Herbst® appliance prevents the lower jaw from moving backward, opening and closing movements still occur easily, and patients do not have any problems learning to chew their food with their lower jaw in this new position.

As with all kinds of braces, patients with Herbst® appliances need to be careful about what they eat. For instance, cold foods such as ice slushes, Popsicles and ice will freeze the cement and make the brace loosen. Sticky foods such as caramels, bubble gum and candy suckers will pull the brace away from the teeth. Hard foods like crisp vegetables and hard candies will bend and loosen the Herbst® appliance, too. So stay away from these foods during your orthodontic treatment.

Your Herbst® appliance will be checked and adjusted at your appointments. If, sometimes between appointments, you develop some sore areas on the inside of your cheeks, please do not try to adjust the appliance yourself. Call for an appointment so that the necessary adjustments can be made.

Wearing an Herbst® Appliance

At first, your mouth will feel unusually full and speaking will be awkward. If you practice reading aloud, your ordinary speech will return quickly. You may also notice more saliva than normal, but this will decrease as you become accustomed to the appliance.

Invisalign clear Braces

Invisalign invisible braces are a great alternative to traditional braces. These are clear plastic retainer systems used to align teeth. Teens and adults especially prefer them to the metal braces. Now there is a way to correct tooth alignment without the embarrassment that can go along with traditional braces. No one needs to know you have them.

The orthodontist will take many pictures and do a bite impression of the teeth. Both of these are used to make a 3-D model of the mouth. A simulation is then done of the way the alignment will take place over time. Finally, the custom-fitted plastic retainer trays are created to follow the simulation and the position the teeth should be in.

How many trays are needed depends on how much correction and what type of correction of the teeth is required. On average 18 to 30 trays are made for each person. The trays are worn for two weeks then the next tray in the series is worn another two weeks. This will be done continuously until the teeth are in the correct position. The time these are used is the same as with the metal braces. They are worn 24 hours a day unless the person is eating or the teeth are being cleaned.

When the initial trays are in place there may be some discomfort and some time needed to get used to them being in the mouth. There will not be the pain that comes with metal brackets and wires in the mouth. Wax is often needed on them to keep them from making small tears is the soft tissue. The metal braces need special cleaning. The wires require periodic tightening by the dentist. Sports become dangerous without a special mouthguard.

The Invisalign braces have none of the problems of the traditional braces. These are made of smooth clear plastic with nothing to cause cuts or irritation. No painful adjustments need to be made. A dental checkup will be necessary to make sure the retainers are doing their job. Unlike with metal braces, these can be removed whenever it is necessary.

There are no restricted foods with the Invisalign braces. All favorite foods are still on the menu. With traditional braces popcorn and gum are off-limits. With Invisalign just remove the braces before it is time to eat. Clean the teeth and then replace the tray.

Cleaning the teeth is so much easier with the clear retainer trays. With metal braces, there is a chance of tooth decay and discoloration. A special toothbrush is needed as well. With the possibility of food being stuck in them there is the complaint of bad breath. Since the trays with Invisalign are removable the teeth can be brushed and flossed as usual.

Realistically the Invisalign invisible braces do cost more than traditional metal braces. But most insurance companies will cover them the same as the traditional ones. The final cost is really determined by how many trays are needed. Since they are invisible being able to continue smiling as usual with complete confidence is priceless. Visit our San Antonio Orthodontist today

Rubber Bands for Braces | Ceramic Braces

In the correction of crooked and crowded teeth, rubber bands for braces are playing an important role. Those are small elastic pieces that are used to speed up the process of correction of your teeth or jaw. Proper use of rubber bands can shorten the period of using braces for one-third of the time. It is different from case to case but one-third of treatment can be up to a year. So, rubber bands for braces are very useful and important part of your treatment. At some moment of treatment your orthodontist in San Antonio will suggest you to start with the use of rubber band for braces. He/she will explain how it is put on and you will do it your self every day, probably few times in a day. You should wear those 24 hours a day if possible. Do, some people are using them only during the night. The role of rubber bands is to use their force and move your teeth in right direction. Depends of what are you trying to achieve: retracts upper teeth, retracts lower teeth, close the space between your teeth, close open bite or line up the centre of the upper and lower front teeth – the position of elastic will be different. It is up to your orthodontist to decide how you are going to use them and for how long. You should try as much as possible to follow his/her instruction.

The problem that you may face when you start the use of rubber bands for braces is that sometimes it wants to be easy to place them right. There are some small devices that can help you with it, just ask your orthodontist. Also, it is not easy to eat while wearing elastics. They are very strong – which is good for correction of your teeth – but it makes chewing of food hard. And if you do not take them of while eating, they will lose their elasticity and they can easily snap. If it snaps while in your mouth it will be painful, so be careful with that. Some food can harm rubber bands and make them weaker, so they will lose their efficiency. That is why you should change them every day. That is how you will have constant pressure on your teeth to be corrected at the maximum speed. If it happens that on one side of your jaw elastics snaps and you don`t have with you reserve one, you should take off the one that is still standing on the other side of your jaw. That is recommended because pressure should be constant all the time at all your teeth – not to have the situation that your teeth are not corrected all at the same time.

Rubber Bands for Braces

Also, be careful with opening your mouth really wide – that can cause elastics to snap, too. All of these potential difficulties make some people using rubber bands for braces only during the night. It is much easier but the period of wearing it will be longer. How and when are you going to use rubber bands for braces is up to you, but for every decision that you make about it you should consult your orthodontist. If you follow his/hers instruction about the use of rubber bands for braces, your treatment will be shortened and your teeth and smile will be perfect in no time!
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