Why herbst appliance

Upon initial placement, the patient can expect to feel the appliance on the tongue and cheeks but speech obstruction and soft tissue sensitivity tend to disappear in the first week or two of wear.

Read your favorite book, magazine, etc. With pronounced jaw discrepancies, continued treatment with other appliances will be essential to the ultimate success of treatment.

The patient and the orthodontist are partners in this adventure and helpful participation by the patient can make the process proceed as planned. Careful oral hygiene and compliance with all the prescribed appliances can help make the process a raging success! Download the Specs. But these problems will likely go away soon. Also, the rods and tubes in your appliance may come apart if you open your mouth too wide.

If this happens, they can be reconnected. Your doctor will show you how to do it. If the appliance makes your mouth tender, your doctor may suggest medicine to relieve the soreness. The appliance may rub against your cheeks or tongue.

If this happens, roll a small piece of dental wax into a ball. Then press it against your appliance at the sore spots. If you get a small cut in your mouth, rinse it with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of warm water. Eating certain foods can break your appliance or pull it apart. By pulling the upper jaw backward and pushing the lower jaw forward, this creates a more defined jawline and stronger chin, both considered highly attractive in both boys and girls.

Though wearing a Herbst appliance does not cause pain, it can initially lead to some soreness in the jaw as the upper and lower jaws get used to wearing the functional appliance. If your child is experiencing any discomfort, taking OTC pain relievers should be all they need to feel better. The appliance may rub against the insides of the cheeks, causing some irritation when the appliance is first installed.

The body is smart, however, and the rubbed spots will quickly toughen up just enough to tolerate wearing the appliance without pain. Rinsing the mouth with saltwater can help with the irritation until the cheeks become accustomed to wearing the appliance.

Patients who are side sleepers may find that the appliance presses into the inside of their cheeks at night, causing discomfort. In this case, we recommend back sleeping if possible.