Growth Appliances

Growth appliances are used for a number of reasons. For the most part, they help your teeth and jaw move into their desired position. Oftentimes, growth appliances are used to correct improper jaw development that may cause other issues like sleep apnea, crowded teeth, or overbites. There is a different growth appliance for different needs.

One type of growth appliance is used to expand the palate when there is not enough room in the mouth for teeth to fit together correctly. Palate expanders can benefit those who have trouble breathing or snore at night. Once your palate has expanded, your teeth will have more room and your airway will become more open. If you suffer from sleep apnea and a crowded mouth is to blame, treatment with a palate expander can cure your sleep apnea because it opens your airway.

We also use growth appliances to correct the appearance of your teeth. We start by assessing whether you breathe through your nose, have proper lip seal, or proper tongue position first. If not, we use growth appliances to address these issues. With the correction of these issues, your teeth will also start to straighten out.

A common problem among children is thumb sucking. Thumb sucking can lead to a wide range of dental problems including jaw development and bite problems. If your child continues to suck their thumb past three years old, it’s likely they will suffer severe dental problems down the line. If traditional tips don’t kick your child’s habit, a thumb-sucking growth appliance can stop your child from sucking their thumb.