Palatal Expander
The palatal expander “expands” (or widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. Your orthodontist will instruct you about when and how to adjust your expander. When you achieve the desired expansion, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent regression.
Invisalign Palatal Expander
Using a series of 3D-printed expanders that gradually widen to create space for adult teeth, the Invisalign Palatal Expander System gives kids the orthodontic care they need.
Elastics (Rubber Bands)
Wearing elastics (or rubber bands) improves the relationship of your upper and lower teeth. Wear rubber bands as instructed and remember that the rubber bands work far more efficiently if they’re worn as prescribed.
Distalizer
A distalizer is an orthodontic device developed to correct a bite when teeth have erupted incorrectly. With an effect similar to headgear, but without the use of a bulky appliance, the distalizer pushes upper teeth back to create a corrected bite prior to the addition of braces.
Distal Jet
A distal jet is a fixed orthodontic appliance used to move molars backward (distally) in the mouth. It is primarily used to correct dental issues such as crowding, overbites, or Class II malocclusions (where the upper teeth are too far forward compared to the lower teeth).
Removable Appliance
Dr. Rubino will instruct you on how to care for your removable appliance and about the duration of the wear. Wearing your removable appliance as directed is crucial to progress with your treatment.
Separators or Spacers
Separators are little rubber rings that may be placed between your teeth to push them apart so that orthodontic bands may be placed during your next appointment. The separators will be removed before we place the bands. Separators do not mix well with sticky foods, toothpicks, or floss.
Headgear
Headgear is used to treat patients whose teeth are in an overbite, with the upper jaw forward of the lower jaw, or an “underbite” with the lower jaw forward of the upper jaw. Headgear gently “pulls” on your teeth to restrict further forward growth of your upper teeth and jaw.
Reverse Pull Headgear
In some cases where an “underbite” is present, with the lower jaw forward of the upper jaw, a reverse pull headgear (face mask) may be used as part of the treatment. This appliance is designed to address the size discrepancy between the upper and lower jaws by moving the upper jaw forward to help correct the malocclusion.