At Family Orthodontics of Naples, we offer a variety of orthodontic appliances to benefit your smile. Depending on you or your child’s orthodontic needs, our team can recommend the best appliance for your needs, such as retainers, orthodontic expanders, the Herbst appliance, or the Carriere Motion Appliance. If you or someone in your family is in need of an orthodontic appliance in the Naples, FL, area call our team today!
Retainers
Retainers are used to help the teeth stay in place and keep them from shifting after completing orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign or traditional braces. Patients may need to wear their retainer all of the time or only at night, depending on the orthodontist’s recommendations.
Orthodontic Expander
This appliance works to create more space in a patient’s mouth by widening the upper jaw over time. An orthodontic expander is most commonly used for one of the following:
- Crossbite – When a patient’s back top teeth bite inside of the lower teeth this is referred to as crossbite. This problem can be corrected by expanding the upper jaw.
- Crowding – When a child’s smile is developing, our team can see if they have room for all of their teeth to grow. By using an expander, more room can be created in a child’s mouth for the incoming teeth, avoiding the need for tooth extractions.
- Impacted Teeth – If a tooth does not have room to grow and is being blocked by other teeth, the tooth becomes impacted. An orthodontic expander can widen the upper jaw allowing the tooth to fully erupt.
Other advantages of an orthodontic expander include broadening your smile, improving breathing, and shortening orthodontic treatment time. An orthodontic expander is custom-designed to fit an individual, fitting over several of the upper teeth in the back of the mouth. Typically, expanders are worn for 3-6 months.
Herbst appliance
The Herbst appliance works by aligning the upper and lower jaws. This appliance can be used to correct an overbite. The Herbst appliance is made up of 4 caps that are placed over the back molars (on each corner of the mouth). Once placed, this appliance is typically worn for 9-12 months. This appliance is most commonly used for younger patients whose smiles are still developing and isn’t necessary for every case of overbite. Our orthodontists can evaluate their smiles and will consider all options before making recommendations.
Carriere Motion Appliance
The Carriere Motion Appliance is used to fix misaligned bites in the back teeth. Attaching to the canine tooth and the first molar on each side of the mouth, this appliance applies gentle pressure on the teeth to gradually move them in the right direction. This appliance is typically worn for about 6 months. If the Carriere Motion Appliance is used prior to orthodontic treatment, it can greatly reduce the overall treatment time.
Interested in an Orthodontic Appliance?
If you or someone in your family could benefit from an orthodontic appliance, we recommend scheduling a consultation with our team. The orthodontist can perform an evaluation and provide the best recommendations for treatment. Call today to get started!
