One of the most common problems orthodontics treat is the discrepancy that occurs when the upper teeth protrude beyond the lower. Ordinarily, when we see a patient with the upper teeth protruding, we tend to think that the upper jaw and teeth are too far forward; but, more often than not, this condition is due to a small lower jaw that is further back than it should be. With these patients, we would like to encourage the lower jaw to catch up in growth, and braces like the Herbst appliance help this happen.
Even though the Herbst appliance prevents the lower jaw from moving backward, opening and closing movement still occur easily, and patients do not have any problems learning to chew their food with their lower jaw in this new position.
As with all kinds of braces, patients with Herbst appliances need to be careful about what they eat. For instance, cold foods such as ice slushes, Popsicles and ice will freeze the cement and make the brace loosen. Sticky foods such as caramels, bubble gum and candy suckers will pull the brace away from the teeth. Hard foods like crisp vegetables and hard candies will bend and loosen the Herbst appliance, too. So stay away from these foods during your orthodontic treatment.
Your Herbst appliance will be checked and adjusted at your appointments. If, sometimes between appointments, you develop some sore areas on the inside of your cheeks, please do not try to adjust the appliance yourself. Call for an appointment so that the necessary adjustments can be made.
Wearing an Herbst Appliance
At first, your mouth will feel unusually full and speaking will be awkward. But if you practice reading aloud, your ordinary speech will return quickly. You may also notice more saliva than normal, but this will decrease as you become accustomed to the appliance.
My Herbst appliance
Hi! I just had a Herbst appliance put in my mouth. This is how it happened.
One day when I had gone to my dentist to check on my teeth, he said I have an over bite so I had to get an appliance. He said to wait …4 weeks or something. He told me that I had to go the day after so they could take a look at my teeth and take pictures. So then I waited 2 weeks and got some small blue elastics put in so they could spread out my teeth so the appliance would fit. A week later they had to take an impression of my teeth (that’s when they put a yummy dough kind of stuff on your teeth ((It taste’s great))). After the impression I had to wash out my mouth. Then after 1 more week the put the appliance in with special teeth glue. (Don’t worry. It doesn’t hurt). For the first few days it felt awkward and so did talking, but I got used to it. They also gave me a bag of wax (dear parents: its only beeswax, its okay if swallowed) to put on my teeth if the appliance starts to hurt. Now I only have to keep this on for 18 months (1.5 years) 1 down and 17 to go.
So that's the story of my Herbst appliance!
By: Emily (10 years old)
