Orthodontic technology

They are mostly used to reduce the projection of the front teeth (increased overjet) in patients with class II malocclusion.

Orthodontic headgear is a type of appliance attached to dental braces that aids in correcting more severe bite problems.

[5] The appliance normally consists of a frame or a centre bars that are strapped to the patients head during a fitting appointment.

3) Eliminates the need for two separate treatment phases, as it is suitable for use in parallel with complete multibracket appliance in both arches.

6) Wide and comfortable range of mastication movements, as the appliance consists of two separate parts with no permanent and physical intermaxillary connection.

Timing of treatment with functional appliances is crucial as they must be used whilst the patient is still growing in order to achieve maximum benefit.

[8] This consists of upper and lower removable appliances that each have bite blocks posturing the mandible into a forward position.

[10] However, the Herbst application still remains the less popular choice than the Twin-blocks due to a higher breakage rate and increased cost of appliance manufacture and clinical time.

All of these appliances allows selective eruption of the lower posterior teeth which is useful for reducing a deep overbite whilst correcting the Class II malocclusion.

(2003) found that early treatment using Twin-block appliances increased the patient's self-esteem and resulted in reduced negative social encounters.

[12] To focus specifically on radiographic and photographic analysis we can analyze the effect of digital technology in the field of orthodontics.

[13] 3D radiography is also becoming more prevalent in dental offices as well and provides numerous benefits for assessing and locating positions of various diagnosis such as TMJ problems, impacted teeth, and tooth eruptions.

A big change for patients specifically, is the transition from plaster model impressions to digital scanners.