Modern headgear is relatively small , discrete , and surprisingly comfortable. Those who have to wear it typically only have to wear it when they sleep, though some may need to put it on a little earlier. The only way to find out whether you or your child needs headgear is to meet with an orthodontist.
Plus , those who do need headgear can expect their before and after results to be all the more dram atic. Either way, orthodontic treatment is the only way to fix alignment and bite issues. Your email address will not be published. So while headgear may be more obtrusive than interior anchor points provided by braces, it is also much more effective in cases where it is necessary.
In the case where you are trying to eliminate a very large gap in the teeth, for example, it might become necessary to create a more solid anchor.
In this situation, the rear teeth may be moved forward as the front teeth are moved backward, if traditional braces or alignment trays were used. Moving both the front and rear teeth could create bite or alignment problems down the road, which would be undesirable and problematic. Sometimes the teeth might need to be moved forward rather than backward as is the more common case.
In situations like this one, anchoring braces to the rear molars would not be able to help because the anchor would be on the wrong side. This creates the need for headgear to create a forward anchor point in front of the mouth. Headgear that incorporates a strap around the head or neck uses the entire head as a series of anchor points.
These headgear appliances actually create such a strong anchor that they are able to help with more than just dental problems — they can also help to shape key facial structures. For this reason, they are often worn by pre-teen aged children whose faces are still growing into the shape they will eventually become. This opportunity to help a child have a healthier and happier smile is one major reason why a parent might want to get headgear for their child. Your dentist will recommend wearing orthodontic headgear if your bite is severely out of alignment malocclusion or if you have teeth overcrowding [1].
Headgear can also help straighten teeth, particularly molars or back teeth. However, if your case requires the use of headgear, your orthodontist creates a unique treatment plan, recommends a specific appliance, and gives you instructions on how to use it. The head cap on your headgear braces has straps to help you secure the vertical frame of your facebow to your head in a safe and comfortable way. These can be elastic bands, springs, or rubber bands. Attachments join the head cap to the facebow in a way that provides the right pressure to move your upper or lower jaw and teeth to align them properly.
Also known as J hooks, they attach to the bands on your upper and lower teeth, extending to the outside of the mouth and around your face. Reverse pull headgear usually has pads that attach to the chin and the forehead with a facemask frame in between them [2] [3]. Orthodontists often prescribe this type of headgear for young children to reduce or eliminate the need for extensive jaw surgery later in life.
To achieve its result, you or your child should follow this treatment precisely. You may require reverse-pull headgear to treat Class III malocclusions: underbites and crossbites. An orthodontist will diagnose an underbite if your bottom front jaw protrudes in front of your top front jaw.
Braces alone cannot treat an underbite. Over time, this dental device will shift the upper jaw forward, aligning it to the lower jaw. If the upper and lower jaws do not align properly when you bite down, this malocclusion is a crossbite. Reverse pull headgear shifts the upper jaw forward to realign it with your lower jaw. The cervical pull type of headgear uses a u-shaped wire to pull on the bands on your upper and lower molars and comes with a strap worn partially behind your neck [2] [4].
This type of headgear is usually used to treat overbite and overjet cases. Cervical headgear treats overbites, a condition where your upper teeth overlap with your lower one. An overbite is a class II malocclusion and requires a better solution than traditional metal braces. Cervical pull headgear holds your upper teeth in place as it shifts the lower jaw forward.
The high pull type of headgear attaches either to the top or the back of your head and the upper jaw. This device directs the growth of your jaw and improves your jaw alignment [2]. High pull headgear treats this rare type of malocclusion that affects about 0. An open bite is a condition where front lower and upper teeth slant outwards and do not touch into a proper bite when you close your mouth. You can also use it to correct an overbite.
Your orthodontist will prescribe headgear, especially for cases that metal braces alone cannot correct. Some conditions that warrant headgear may be moderate or severe. Sometimes, you may need to speed up the time of your treatment. In such a case, your dentist may prescribe headgear [5].
Check out some headgear braces alternatives here for more information. Headgear treatment takes about one to two years to correct moderate-to-severe malocclusions. Also, as a patient, you must wear your headgear consistently for 12 to 14 hours each day for the treatment to be effective [4]. As your teeth slowly move into position, you may visit your orthodontist to shorten the period of your headgear phase each day. Find out more about other braces alternatives that you can use to treat orthodontic problems.
However, here are some tips to help you use them as easily as possible:. Wearing orthodontic headgear is safe most of the time. Although rare, you may experience some mild-to-moderate side effects. Try out these braces alternatives to help realign your teeth. Maintaining headgear is straightforward. Your overall treatment strategy and the extent of work needed on your jaw will mostly influence this price. You can align your jaws and correct minor tooth alignment using other alternatives.
A bionator is a removable orthodontic appliance that extends your lower jaw and helps correct overbite.
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