As we all know, orthodontic treatment can straighten your teeth and give you a beautiful smile. Another important part of orthodontics, however, is correcting your bite so that your upper and lower teeth fit together properly.
One of the most common problems our orthodontists see is patients that have protrusive upper teeth or an "overjet" where the upper teeth are too far ahead of the lower teeth. This requires a type of correction called "Class II Correction" which used to mean wearing headgear for several hours daily despite potential embarrassment and discomfort. Over the past 25 years, however, there has been a gradual shift away from headgear, so much so that it is now very rare to see anyone wearing it. Not only has this change come about because patients didn't like it, but also because there are now excellent alternatives that are more acceptable to today’s youth. One of these is 3M Unitek's Forsus Appliance used frequently by Dr. Cohen and Dr. Yue.
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| Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device by 3M Unitek |
If our orthodontists determine that your overbite can be resolved by moving the upper teeth back while allowing the lower teeth to move forward an equal amount, they may recommend these inter-arch springs connected between your upper teeth and your lower ones.
Some of the benefits of using the Forsus appliance are:
1) It is hidden inside the cheeks and almost undetectable
2) It allows normal mouth movements and is well tolerated by patients
3) It is tough and rarely breaks
4) It causes very few emergencies
5) It has few undesirable side effects
6) It is non-removable by the patients so it cannot be misplaced or forgotten.
The length of time that the Forsus Appliance is worn varies depending on the level of correction needed for each case, and like anything associated with braces, it will take a couple of days to get used to having the appliance in your mouth.
Always be careful about what you eat. Avoid hard or sticky foods and be sure to cut your food into smaller pieces. Brushing is always recommended after every meal. Take special care when brushing your teeth to avoid dislodging or separating the appliance.
As with any orthodontic appliance worn inside the mouth, some discomfort or irritation may occur. Call your orthodontist if discomfort or irritation continues or if a sore develops in your mouth.
Examining your springs daily and notifying your doctor when you notice anything out of the ordinary can help keep you on schedule and avoid setbacks.
