 | |||
                                |  |
 
One of the most common problems orthodontics treat is the discrepancy that occurs when the upper teeth protrude beyond the lower. Ordinarily when we see a patient with the upper teeth protruding, we tend to think that the upper jaw and teeth are too far forward; but, more often than not, this condition is due to a small lower jaw that is further back than it should be. With these patients, we would like to encourage the lower jaw to catch up in growth, and braces like the Herbst appliance help this happen.At first, your mouth will feel unusually full and speaking will be awkward. But if you practice reading aloud, your ordinary speech will return quickly. You may also notice more saliva than normal, but this will decrease as you become accustomed to the appliance. The Herbst appliance works by positioning your lower jaw forward into an overcorrected position giving forward pressures on teeth, bone and muscle of the lower jaw. Even though the Herbst appliance prevents the lower jaw from moving backward, opening and closing movement still occur easily and patients do not have any problems learning to chew their food with their lower jaw in this new position but you may experience difficulty chewing for the first 7-12 days. A diet of softer foods and protein shakes is recommended. As with all kinds of braces patients with Herbst appliances need to be careful about what they eat. Sticky foods such as caramels, bubble gum, and candy suckers will pull the brace away from the teeth. Hard foods like crisp vegetables and hard candies will bend and loosen the Herbst appliance too. So stay away from these foods during your orthodontic treatment. Your Herbst appliance will be checked and adjusted at your appointments. Good oral hygiene is stressed during appliance placement. CASE STUDY #1 Before:   After:  
CASE STUDY #2 Before:   After:  
3890 Turtle Creek Drive, Suite A |  |
 | |||
