Budd Orthodontics offers comprehensive appliance treatment at our orthodontic offices in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ.

Elastics

Elastics are the most common type of auxiliary treatment used to correct problems with how the teeth fit together. Elastics come in a variety of sizes and force levels depending on the needs of the case. They are used to change the relationship of the upper teeth relative to the lower teeth. Their most common use is to correct overbites, but they are used in almost all orthodontic treatment that involves problems with the bite.

Forsus™

Forsus springs are an alternative to traditional elastic treatment or other treatments used to correct overbites. The advantage of the Forsus springs is they are connected to the braces and can’t be taken in and out by the patient. Patients who have a hard time remembering to wear their elastic rubber bands benefit from having Forsus springs as an option.

Forsus springs are hidden inside the mouth and are much more comfortable to wear than headgear, in addition to achieving correction of the bite in a shorter amount of time.

Palatal Expanders

Palatal expanders are a commonly used appliance in orthodontics to make room for crowded teeth, correct crossbites, increase the size of the airway, and/or widen a narrow upper jaw. Many of us have held a newborn baby and felt the “soft spots” on their tender little heads. Those “soft spots” are cartilage sutures that have not yet closed in their developing skulls. In much the same way, each of us has a cartilage suture in our upper jaw that splits the upper jaw into two halves. At the onset of puberty, that suture starts to fuse together into one bone. However, prior to the fusion of the bone the upper jaw can be expanded significantly using a palatal expander. As the palate expands, the cartilage is stretched and stimulates the bone to fill into the space created by the expander. If given enough time to stabilize, the jaw will then fill in with bone at the new “corrected” width.

Pretty amazing!

Retainers

Retainers are one of the most important parts of orthodontic treatment. There are two main reasons why. First, your gums have little elastic fibers in them that attach to the teeth. There is actually a protein in your gums called elastin. The elastic fibers in your gums act like little rubber bands. When you straighten a crooked tooth, the elastic fibers get stretched out and want to recoil to their original positions. These fibers “remember” where the teeth were before treatment began and are the main cause of teeth getting crooked again after orthodontic treatment.

Second, teeth naturally tend to move and adjust as you age—regardless of whether you have had orthodontic treatment or not—unless you are wearing retainers.

If you stopped wearing your retainer and your teeth have shifted, all is not lost. Straightening teeth the second time around tends to be easier and faster. A lot of the work was already done the first time around. Invisalign is a great option for those who have had previous treatment with braces but have had some orthodontic relapse.

Bonded fixed retainers are a nice option for holding teeth in position for the long term. They consist of small wires bonded to the backsides of your teeth.

There are also two removable options for retainers: Hawley retainers (traditional pink plastic and wire retainers) and Essix retainers, which are clear and invisible.

Carriere® Distalizer™ Appliance

The Carriere Distalizer pushes upper teeth back to create a corrected bite prior to the addition of braces. It utilizes a distalizer bar attached to the upper arches on both sides of the mouth, lower anchor points, and a rubber band that connects the two.

Nance Appliance

The Nance appliance is used to prevent upper back molars from rotating or moving forward after you've worn headgear, a Wilson's arch, or any other appliance to move the molars back. This keeps space open for the eruption of permanent premolar teeth.

The appliance is made of two bands that are cemented onto the first molars and a wire that spans the roof of the mouth from one molar to the other. An acrylic pad or “button” covers the wire that touches the roof of your mouth directly behind the front teeth.

Space Maintainer

If a primary tooth has come out too soon because of decay or an accident, the teeth that surround the open space can shift, impeding the permanent tooth’s eruption. It is important to maintain the space to prevent future space loss and dental problems when permanent teeth begin to come in. Space maintainers can be made of stainless steel and/or plastic, and can be removable or fixed (cemented to the teeth).

Lingual Holding Arch

A lingual arch is used on the lower teeth is a tooth is lost during Phase I treatment. A wire is placed on the lingual (tongue) side of the back teeth and is attached to the tooth in front of the open space on both sides. This prevents the teeth from shifting into the gap.

Tongue Crib/Habit Appliance

A tongue crib is an oral appliance used to help break tongue thrusting or thumb sucking habits in young patients. It prevents the tongue from protruding and pushing against the teeth and serves as a reminder the child not to place their thumb in their mouth.