Functional Appliances

Whether your child has an overbite or an underbite, we have a wide range of appliances which can be used to correct the bite and encourage proper growth of the jaws.

A common issue we see in orthodontics is an increased distance between the upper and lower jaws and teeth (what we refer to as an increased overjet), which is typically due to a smaller lower jaw with respect to the upper jaw. We offer a variety of options to treat this, from simply elastics in simpler cases to appliances such as a Herbst Appliance for more severe cases. A Herbst appliance is used to encourage forward growth of the lower jaw in growing patients to maximize their growth potential and align their jaws properly to achieve an ideal bite and jaw relationship.

On the other hand, if your child has an underbite due to a slower growing upper jaw, we offer Reverse Pull Head Gear, otherwise known as a Facemask, to encourage forward growth of the upper jaw to match the lower. This is a wonderful option for our younger patients to help correct their growth pattern early on and set them up for success from the beginning of their orthodontic journey.