A functional appliance is a removable orthodontic device that uses the facial and jaw muscles to improve the way that the teeth bite together. They are most commonly advised for patients who have prominent teeth.
When is a functional appliance prescribed?
Functional appliances are generally only available for children up to the age of about 14 years as they are most effective during active stages of growth. These braces are used to harness the growth of the jaws and improve the way the upper and lower teeth meet.
Do functional appliances work for adults?
Functional appliances They are most commonly advised for patients who have prominent teeth. Functional appliances have the ability to produce dramatic improvements that tend to work most effectively in growing patients and are not used in adults.
What is the most common functional appliance?
This can be overcome by the use of a fixed functional appliance. The most well-known and popular fixed functional appliance is the Herbst appliance. This was first described by Emil Herbst in 1905, which makes it almost as old as the speciality of orthodontics itself.16 Feb 2015
What are functional appliances made of?
It is usually a 'phase 1' type appliance and is followed by fixed braces (phase 2) or a retainer. The Twin Block appliances are made from acrylic using two plastic blocks on the top jaw and two on the bottom jaw. The appliance postures a patient's lower jaw into a forward position on closing their mouth.
When would you use functional appliances?
Functional appliances are believed to be most successful prior to or during the adolescent growth spurt. This typically occurs between the ages of 11 and 14 in boys and 10 to 13 in girls. Nevertheless, treatment may be suggested at an earlier or later stage in certain circumstances.
What are fixed functional appliances?
Functional Appliances can be categorized broadly as. 1. Fixed Functional Appliances- for patients who are non-compliant to removable appliances and in patients after the growth phase has been completed. 2. Removable Functional Appliances- for compliant patients and for those who are in growth phase.