Orthodontic headgear
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Overview
Orthodontic headgear is a type of appliance attached to dental braces that aid in correcting severe bite problems.
The most common treatment they are used for is correcting anteroposterior discrepancies - for instance the top teeth being too far forward relative to the lower teeth ("increased overjet".) The headgear is attached to the braces via metal hooks or a facebow and is anchored from the back of the head or neck with straps or a head-cap. Elastic bands are typically then used to apply pressure to the bow or hooks. Its purpose is to slow-down or stop the upper jaw from growing, hence preventing or correcting an overjet. For more details and photographs, see Headgear - Orthodontic.
There is another type of headgear to treat reverse overjets (where the top jaw is not forward enough.) It is similar to a facemask, also attached to braces, and encourages forward growth of the upper jaw.
The headgear can also be used to make more space for teeth to come in. The headgear is then attached to the molars (via molar headgear bands & tubes), and helps to draw them backwards in the mouth, opening up space for the front teeth to be moved back using braces and bands.
Initially this can be embarrassing for children, however most doctors agree that children and adolescence adapt quickly to such changes and requirements. Parents should be aware that their child may be subject to mocking for wearing headgear although children and teenagers, friends and school peers normally get used to the new appliance after just a few weeks if full-time wear (i.e. 16 to 22 hours a day) is required. However, some orthodontists only require 12 hours per night. They often must have multiple appliances and accessories to go along with their headgear, such as coil springs, plates or retainers and elastic bands.
The vast majority of patients receiving this type treatment are children and adolescence however adults sometimes are required to wear such appliances. The need for headgear (also see Headgear - Orthodontic) is a useful appliance for orthodontic specialists and it has increased somewhat as less and less orthodontists use temporary implants ("temporary anchorage devices") inside the patients mouth, to perform the same tooth movements.
Orthodontics | |
|---|---|
| Diagnoses | Crossbite - Malocclusion - Open bite - Prognathism - Retrognathism |
| Appliances | Archwire - Braces - Headgear - Invisalign - Ligature - Palatal expander - Quad helix - Retainer |
| Procedures | Accelerated Orthodontic Treatment - Cantilever mechanics |
| Other specialties | Endodontology - Periodontology - Prosthodontology |
| Organizations | American Association of Orthodontists - British Orthodontic Society - Canadian Association of Orthodontists - Orthodontic National Group - Orthodontic Technicians Association |
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
