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What Is a Functional Appliance? Does My Child Need One?

Home » Blog » What Is a Functional Appliance? Does My Child Need One?

  • Charleston Orthodontics
  • August 22, 2017

The field of orthodontics is full of confusing, unfamiliar terminology. In an effort to help our patients understand their diagnosis and treatment options, we’re discussing some of the more commonly used terms in several of our posts.

Today we are talking about functional appliances. One might think any appliance used in orthodontics would be functional, but this term refers to a set of appliances used for a specific reason.

Functional appliances are used with Class II problems, which occur when the top teeth bite in front of the lower teeth, or to expand the jaw to relieve overcrowding. These appliances reposition or reshape the upper or lower jaw of a patient rather than straighten teeth. Fixing these issues not only improves the patient’s appearance, it can also relieve medical issues such as migraines, dizziness or sleep apnea. Someone with restricted airflow may also benefit from using a functional appliance to widen the upper jaw, which can open up narrow sinuses passages.

Because this orthodontic treatment is changing the position or shape of the jaw, a functional appliance works best when the patient is still growing. Treatment can, and should, begin as early as age 7.

Common Types of Functional Appliances

Both fixed and removable functional appliances are available. If a patient is likely to forget to wear the appliance or lose it, fixed may be a better option. One of the most common fixed appliances is the Herbst appliance, which is made of metal connected directly to the teeth and works to bring the lower jaw forward to meet the upper jaw. A removable option for this process is the twin block. This appliance is made of wire and acrylic and resembles a top and bottom retainer stuck together.

Jaw expanders can be used on both the top and bottom jaws and are usually fixed. Screws in an upper expander are turned to gradually stretch the cartilage in the jaw and allow more room for teeth while a lower expander tips the teeth outward because the lower jaw cannot be expanded.

Care and Length of Treatment

Fixed appliances obviously cannot be removed for cleaning, so careful, thorough brushing is best. A special brush may be provided by your orthodontist for this purpose. Removable appliances can also be cleaned with toothpaste and a toothbrush outside of the mouth, but hot water should never be used since it could soften the acrylic parts or bend them out of place.

As with braces and Invisalign, patients need to be careful about what they eat. Staying away from sticky or hard foods will reduce the risk of damaging the appliance. When the appliance is first put in place, you might have trouble speaking clearly and your teeth may be sore, but these issues will disappear relatively quickly.

Using this type of appliance may eliminate the need for headgear, tooth extraction or jaw surgery, so it is worth talking to your orthodontist about. If you have additional questions about this type of treatment or think your child could benefit from it, please feel call our office at (843) 4-BRACES to schedule a free consultation.

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PATIENT REVIEWS

Our 5-Star Experience

There is nothing that warms our hearts more than hearing from patients who have had a great experience at our office. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

You Have the Best Smile | Dr. and Teen Patient
Charles L.
Outstanding Services on getting braces done for your kids or yourself. Dr. Patel and his staff are absolutely squared away and produce great results. Definitely Military Friendly for both active duty and retirees.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with Dr. Patel and our team. It's great to know that our commitment to providing excellent service resonates with our patients, especially those in the military community. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to deliver outstanding care!
lexus D.
10/10 service , clean environment and it smells great ! today i came from another dentist and my brackets were different from
the ones they use . long story short they were still able to tightened them for me and i would recommend this dentist
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and appreciated the clean environment. It's great to know we could assist you with your needs. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
tamekica M.
Went to this place about a week ago, and from the front door to the back, customer services was awesome!! Shot out to Mrs. Laurie she was really sweet and pleasant. 10/10.
Response from the owner:We're thrilled to hear that our team, especially Mrs. Laurie, made such a positive impression. Your feedback inspires us to continue providing exceptional service. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Paula R.
Love this place. Always great service, handsome orthodontist, always take you on time. Kind staff.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you consistently enjoy our service and appreciate the punctuality and kindness of our team. Your support means a lot to us!
Shamicka B.
I would absolutely recommend everyone to get serves at Charleston Orthodontist they always do a great job and good customer service , and very clean atmosphere they always have snacks, coffee, tea, and water bottles they most definitely make you feel comfortable and at home. The Orthodontist doctor is the best also love them all very respectful and professional staff. I have been a patient of there's for about three almost four years and never had a problem or disappointment in services. There the best.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you feel at home with us and appreciate the efforts of our team to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment. Your recommendation means a lot, and we’re grateful to have you as part of our community for nearly four years. We look forward to continuing to serve you with the best care possible!
Andee C.
The office is beautiful and so well kept. All of the staff is so nice and welcoming. I’m very happy with my decision to visit.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit and found our office inviting. Our team takes great pride in creating a welcoming environment, and it's fantastic to know that it made a positive impression on you. We look forward to seeing you again!
Mary H.
So impressed with this office. So welcoming. We met everyone and immediately knew this was our choice for braces
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you felt welcomed and confident in your choice for braces. Our team is dedicated to creating a positive experience for all our patients, and it’s great to know we’re on the right track. We look forward to supporting you on your journey!
jeannette B.
I got my braces through them and I love my results. The employees and Doctor are great always make me feel comfortable when am there. If any problems they immediately have you come in to address it. Have referred plenty of people to them
Aliaah J.
My experience here was AWESOME ‼️ Staff is really nice and braces are definitely affordable !
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear that you had a great experience! We loved having you!
Lashawna B.
It was a great experience from the moment we walked in and interacted with the front desk to the staff that assisted us. And most importantly, the doctor was very professional and thorough in explaining his recommendations as well as why he recommended what he did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear that our team made a positive impression from the start and that the doctor provided clear and thorough explanations. Your feedback inspires us to continue delivering exceptional care. We appreciate your support!
Sheena N.
Loved my entire experience all the staff and provider was very kind, informative and professional! Results were good improvement .....would recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing! We're so happy to hear that our team made a positive impact and that you saw good results. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
Tori S.
10/10 would absolutely come here again if I ever needed to! Everyone is so sweet & professional. Any question, concern or problem I had throughout my treatment were addressed promptly & efficiently. I don’t think I could have chose a better company for my treatment! Amazing experience to say the least
Response from the owner:We have loved having you as a patient Tori! Although your braces journey is coming to an end soon, we hope to see your smiling face again soon. We are so grateful for your confidence in our office!
Chelsea B.
Awesome experience at Charleston Ortho. Ms. Laurie(Llama) and Dr. Patel were amazing. I had to bring my son with me and he stole the show. I’m on day to of my braces and barely any pain. 10/10
Response from the owner:We loved having you both! Bring him anytime :) We are also so happy to hear that you are acclimating to the braces so well! See you soon!
Angelica C.
I love coming to this place because they make me feel comfortable and the people that work at the orthodontics are really nice there. I love coming there
Response from the owner:We love having you here Angelica! Knowing that our patients feel comfortable and enjoy coming to their appointments makes our day!
Fire S.
I recommend this to anyone who need orthodontist care. They were very thorough. The process was quick. No long wait, friendly and respectful Team.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the great review! We're really glad to hear you had a smooth and positive experience with us. It means a lot that you’d recommend us—and we’ll keep working hard to make sure every visit feels just as friendly and easy. Hope to see you again soon!
Benita N.
Halfway through my orthodontic journey. The staff and specialists at Charleston Orthodontics are great. They keep me informed of my progress and are always available to answer any questions i have regarding my treatment. If you’re looking for an orthodontic practice, give Charleston Orthodontics a call. You’ll be glad you did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for choosing our office Benita!
william R.
Super friendly and efficient! I had an emergency and needed a replacement retainer! The entire staff from start to finish were professional and compassionate!
Response from the owner:We are so happy that we were able to help out, William!
Lee L.
Can’t say it enough I LOVEEEEEEE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE FROM THE ORTHODONTIST DR. Patel & all of the specialist including front desk❤️❤️❤️
Response from the owner:We LOVEEEE everything about having you as a patient!! Thank you so much for the review!! ❤️
Jennifer W.
Wonderful experience! Waiting time for anything, scheduling and cost, can’t beat it anywhere else. Staff is always pleasant and Dr. Patel is brilliant! I have enjoyed the service and will have my family do service in the future. My treatment came out beautifully!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful review! Dr. Patel and our entire team truly appreciate your trust and are so happy you're pleased with your results. We’re honored to care for you and your family, and we look forward to seeing you again in the future!
Derron D.
I’ve been a patient at Charleston Orthodontics for the past three years while receiving braces, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience. The staff is incredibly friendly and always made me feel welcome at every visit. The office is spotless and well-maintained, which made each appointment comfortable. I also really appreciated that the payment plans were reasonable and manageable. Overall, I highly recommend Charleston Orthodontic to anyone looking for quality orthodontic care!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for being a patient with us for the past three years! We’re happy to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience with our team and that our office, care, and payment plans met your expectations. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we’re so happy we could be a part of your orthodontic journey. We look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
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