Functional Appliances

A functional appliance is a removable brace that works on the upper and lower teeth at the same time to help correct protruding front teeth. These functional braces help guide the teeth and bite into the ideal position.

Functional appliances are generally only available to children up to the age of about 14 as they are most effective during active stages of growth. These are used to harness the growth of the jaws and improve the way the upper and lower teeth meet. They work by positioning the lower jaw in a forward posture which stretches the muscles of the face and helps to correct protruding teeth. In some cases, these braces encourage favourable growth and help to improve the facial profile.

The most popular functional appliances used in our clinic are called Twin Blocks. Although these braces can be quite chunky, if they are worn well, they can produce great results. For a functional appliance to be effective, it must be worn all the time except when playing sports, eating and for cleaning. They must be stored in a safe place e.g. a hard plastic box when not being worn. Speech will be affected when wearing a functional appliance so it is best to practice speaking with the brace in place e.g. read out loud at home, and in this way the speech will return to normal within a few of days. Typical treatments can last from 6-12 months. After this time, additional orthodontic treatment is often necessary to fine tune the position of individual teeth.