The appliance your child has received today goes by many names, including facebow, headgear and night brace. Regardless of name the goal is often the same…to enhance relative growth of the lower jaw forward (a reduction of the Class II overbite), thus permitting a more harmonious fit with the upper jaw. The headgear remains the standard of care in attempting to reduce a Class II overbite.
Our success will depend equally on your child’s good growth and good cooperation; please bring your headgear to every visit. We cannot control growth but you can control the amount of time the headgear is worn. If growth and wear do not happen together and the jaw imbalance persists, a mutual decision will be made to either leave the bite off or pursue alternate treatments. These treatments can include extractions of teeth and/or jaw surgery.
PLACEMENT TIPS
- Loops on the inner bow should always face up.
- Gently sliding the ends of the inner bow into molar tubes prevents dislodging of bands and brackets.
- Always hold the facebow in place when securing the strap, which should only connect/disconnect on one side.
GETTING USED TO YOUR FACEBOW
- Discomfort during the first weeks is mild as you slowly adjust to wearing your appliance.
- Within one week of delivery you should be wearing your headgear to bed every night and when at home. Your goal is 14 hours of wear each day. Wear when watching TV, doing homework, talking on the phone, etc…
- Sleep on your back to avoid unwanted forces on the facebow, we understand this takes getting used to. If you must sleep on your side, placing a wash cloth between your cheek and the bow will minimize uneven forces.
- Hair clips can be used to hold the head strap in place.
REMOVAL TIPS
- Remember the removal sequence is the exact reverse from placement.
- Always disconnect one side of the strap before removing the facebow to avoid eye injury.
- Gently removing your facebow will prevent dislodging bands and brackets.
SAFETY & CARE TIPS / CAUTION DO NOT POKE YOUR EYE
- Never play with the facebow when inside or outside your mouth, never wear the appliance outside the home.
- Never let anyone grab or hold the facebow when wearing it as this can result in eye injury.
- Stop wearing the appliance if it is distorted or not fitting correctly and call the office immediately.
- Clean the silver bow regularly with a wash cloth and mild soap.
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Papandreas Orthodontics and the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a specialist evaluate every adult, and all children no later than the age of 7. Although treatment for kids rarely begins at age 7 the early detection of impending problems always leads to a simpler, less expensive future solution via proper timing. Dr. Papandreas provides the initial consultation with records and follow-up observations at no charge to all kids and adults. No referral is necessary for you or your child (you can also share this info with a friend); CLICK HERE to set a visit now. Do not hesitate pursuing this evaluation regardless of perception that ‘all is ok’, as many problems are not easily identifiable except by the Certified Orthodontic Specialist©.