RPE | Sagittal | Schwartz | Frankel | Spring Aligner | Mouthguards
RPE
Attached to the upper molars through bonding or by cemented bands, the Rapid Palatal Expander is an orthodontic device used to create a wider space in the upper jaw. It is typically used when the upper jaw is too narrow for the lower jaw or when the upper teeth are crowded or blocked out of the dental arch.
When patients are still growing, their connective tissue between the left and right halves of their upper jaw is very responsive to expansion. By simply activating the expander through turning a screw in the center, with a special key we provide, gradual outward pressure is placed on the left and right halves of the upper jaw. This pressure causes an increased amount of bone to grow between the right and left halves of the jaw, ultimately resulting in an increased width.
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Sagittal
The Sagittal appliance is a removable appliance used to expand the upper jaw. Made of acrylic and metal, the appliance fits comfortably in the roof of your mouth. To activate the expansion of the jaw, a small screw built into the appliance will be turned over a period of time. It is important to follow our instructions as to how and when the screw should be turned.
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Schwartz
The Schwartz appliance is a removable expansion appliance primarily used on the lower arch in order to expand the arch and create needed additional space for the permanent teeth. Treatment time in the schwartz appliance is approximately nine months, but will vary based on individual needs of the patient. If both the upper and lower arches require expansion, we may use the schwartz along with a rapid palatal expander in order to coordinate the expansion of both arches.
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Frankel
The Frankel appliance is a functional orthopedic appliance that is used to help create additional space for permanent teeth to erupt by expanding the arches. It stimulates growth of the lower jaw which will better align the upper and lower teeth. The frankel can also be used to help with protrusion or overjet by retracting the upper teeth and creating a better bite.
Frankel appliances are typically worn full-time for 18 – 24 months and possibly longer if the permanent teeth have not fully erupted.
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Spring Aligner
The Spring Aligner Appliance requires little or no adjustment and minimal chair time, making it a fast and easy option for improving anterior rotations. Because it is a pre-adjusted appliance, no adjustment appointments are needed! Another feature that makes the spring aligner unique and desirable is the fact that it can also serve as a post-treatment retainer, saving you both time and money.
The spring aligner is created by constructing a model in which the anterior teeth are reset into the ideal position. The appliance is fabricated to match the model, and, because wire spring gives the appliance the flexibility to seat properly, adjustments are not generally required.
Slight discomfort may be experienced during the first week of wearing the spring aligner, but as the teeth move, the discomfort will subside.
Once tooth movement is complete, the appliance can then be used as a retainer. Once the retention phase has ended, the appliance can be used as a guide to check the teeth and assure that no relapse has occurred. If movement does occur after a patient completes his or her retention phase, a nighttime retainer will be recommended indefinitely.
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Mouthguards
We are pleased to offer our patients custom-fabricated mouthguards for sports activities. Unlike stock mouthguards, which fit loosely because they are designed to accommodate many possible wearers, our sports mouthguards are tailored to fit your exact dental profile, providing the highest attainable level of comfort and security in a mouthguard.
The first step in fabricating these mouthguards is to take an impression of your teeth. We then use that impression and fabricate the mouthguard using special professional-grade materials. The perfect fit of these custom-fabricated mouthguards ensures that not only will your mouthguards fit comfortably, they will also offer the most protection and will interfere the least with speech or breathing.
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