Appliances

At Accorde Orthodontists, we strive to provide world-class orthodontic care in a fun, friendly, and welcoming office environment. Our expert orthodontists and highly-trained team of orthodontic specialists work with patients on an individual level, designing treatments that fit into our patients’ lifestyles instead of the other way around. While most of our treatments center on braces and Invisalign, we also offer a variety of specialized orthodontic appliances that we can use to treat a wide range of specific conditions.

Expanders

Many orthodontic conditions – like crowding or crossbite – are caused by the upper jaw developing to be too narrow, providing insufficient room for the teeth. Palatal expanders take advantage of the body’s natural development to solve this problem.

During childhood, the upper jaw isn’t actually one solid bone: it’s two halves connected by a strip of soft tissue. An expander applies outward pressure to this seam, pushing the two halves of the jaw away from each other. Each day, you turn the screw in your expander a certain amount using a special key. This adds more pressure to the jaws, and over time, this pressure causes a small gap between the jaws, which the body closes by adding more bone. Over time, this creates a wider jaw and a healthier mouth.

Forsus

A Forsus appliance can help us reposition the upper molars and move the lower jaw forward in the mouth. The appliance involves attaching a spring coil rod between the upper first molar band and the lower archwire, which produces backward pressure on the upper molars and forward pressure on the lower jaw. It’s common for patients to experience some discomfort when they first start using a Forsus appliance, but this should pass within a few days. Over-the-counter painkillers can help manage pain if necessary.

Mandibular Anterior Repositioning Appliance (MARA)

A Mandibular Anterior Repositioning Appliance (MARA) helps to treat upper front teeth protrusion and to move the lower jaw forward. Normally, the appliance is fitted to the teeth via stainless steel crowns on the first molars, which provide better traction than bands. MARAs do not have moving parts, which makes them a more reliable appliance than many other treatments.

Herbst

The Herbst appliance keeps the lower jaw in a forward position but still allows the wearer to open and close their jaw as normal. Most patients experience an adjustment period after first getting the appliance, and you’ll likely find that your mouth feels awkward and full for the first few days with the appliance. You may notice changes in your speech and overproduction of saliva for the first few days, but all of this will fade in a matter of days. You’ll need to monitor your diet and avoid foods that may harm your appliance, but after an adjustment period, most patients have no problems with the Herbst appliance.

Contact Your Champlin & Albertville, MN Orthodontists

Orthodontic appliances give us increased flexibility to treat a range of conditions that braces aren’t always best suited for, and if you want to learn more about how orthodontic appliance therapy might benefit you or your child, we would love to help you. Contact us today to learn more about our practice and the treatments we offer and don’t hesitate to request an appointment online to schedule your consultation. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you achieve a beautiful new smile!