What Is A Dental Appliance?
Dental appliances are special dental devices that correct specific issues. There are permanent and removable dental appliances that treat teeth, restore dental health, and improve the appearance of a person’s smile. Depending on your needs, our skilled dentists can use a Reno dental appliance to address concerns and get your smile where it needs to be.
What Are Different Types Of Dental Appliances?
Absolute Dental is proud to offer comprehensive dental care and services all in one place. Our team may recommend different dental appliances for you or your child.
Orthodontic Retainers and Appliances
Orthodontic appliances, such as braces, clear aligners, and retainers, treat dental misalignments, including:
- Crooked teeth
- Overcrowded teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
However, there are other pediatric orthodontic appliances that target these issues with lesser-known devices. These appliances can make room for the teeth to move into the correct positions as children develop:
- Rapid palatal expander: A palate expander is used to widen a narrow upper palate. This removable device gradually expands the roof of the mouth over several weeks or months while young patients’ jaws are more adaptable.
- Twin block: A twin block appliance has upper and lower bite blocks that help move the lower jaw forward. This is typically used in children who have protruding or “buck” teeth.
- Herbst: When a child has a severe overbite, a Herbst appliance can help. The stainless steel device is cemented to the back molars and applies continual pressure to align the jaw over time.
- Headgear: Orthodontic headgear can help with more extreme cases of overbites and jaw misalignments. The patient wears the gear around the head and neck to shift the jaw bones into the correct positions.
Appliances For Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes a person to pause breathing while sleeping. Our skilled dentists provide treatment to help patients with certain types of obstructive sleep apnea with these dental appliances:
- Tongue retaining devices: In some cases of sleep apnea, a person’s tongue can block the upper airway and cause issues with breathing. A tongue-retaining device pulls the tongue forward with a removable suction device to improve breathing during sleep.
- Mandibular advance devices: These are common oral appliances that pull the lower jaw forward while forcing the tongue back to prevent obstructions while a person sleeps.
Other Dental Appliances
Absolute Dental also provides other dental devices and appliances that protect teeth and keep your smile healthy and strong. Our Reno dentists offer:
- Customized mouthguards: Mouthguards are a good choice for people who play contact sports and want to prevent dental emergencies and injuries. The custom guards fit comfortably over your teeth.
- Nightguards: If you suffer from bruxism or teeth grinding, nightguards prevent you from grinding your teeth while you sleep. This will protect you from worn tooth enamel, jaw issues, and other problems caused by chronic grinding.
- Cosmetic appliances: Some dental appliances, such as bridges, crowns, implants, and dentures, are designed to address aesthetic issues and enhance a person’s smile.
