As recommended by the AAO, children as young as 7 can be assessed. It has been proved that early intervention may reduce treatment time. Functional appliances may be either fixed or removable. These devices are used to correct a disharmony between the upper and lower jaws.
They work by influencing the growth and development of the jaw of a young patient. The most common use of a functional appliance is to encourage the forward growth of a retrusive or under-developed lower jaw.
The functional appliance holds the lower jaw forward over a period of time, until the teeth, jaws, and joints have adapted and the desired jaw position has been obtained. Correction of prominent top teeth is not straightforward and relies on
co operation from the patient.
The more common removable functional appliances are made from separate upper and lower parts which interlock, placing the lower jaw in a more advanced position.
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Functional appliances align the jaws not the teeth, so they are usually used as a first stage of Orthodontic treatment. The second stage of treatment is the alignment of the teeth with fixed braces. The final result is a well-aligned bite and straight teeth, helping to maintain proper chewing, clear speech, and excellent oral health.
We offer all the latest and most contemporary methods of interceptive treatments available.
