Headgear: Is it Worth It?

Most patients say the worst thing about wearing headgear as part of their orthodontic treatment is the way it looks. There’s no hiding it and it just gets in the way. However, it’s an important part of the treatment process for some patients because it creates a special force on your teeth that other appliances can’t achieve. But is the hassle and embarrassment of wearing headgear worth it?

Purpose

Headgear is a type of orthodontic appliance that attaches to braces, or sometimes to a palatal expander. The main goal of headgear is to guide the growth of your jaw to correct severe bite problems.

Types

There are two main types of headgear. The Facebow attaches to your back teeth braces, and has a strap that goes around your neck or over your head. The strap is used to provide the direction and degree of pressure on your jaw. The J Hook headgear has wires with loops on the end that hooks to your braces. It also has a strap that goes behind your neck to adjust the pressure on your jaw.

Instructions

The specific amount of time for wearing headgear depends on the unique needs of each patient, but in most cases it must be worn 8-12 hours each day for 9-18 months. It’s important to follow your orthodontist’s guidelines so that you’ll achieve faster and better results. Patients are usually instructed to at least wear the headgear while sleeping overnight, even though it may take some getting used to. Also, you must be careful when putting it on and off so that you don’t injure your eyes, lips, or cheeks. Headgear should be removed when playing sports or running for safety reasons.

Expectations

It is normal to experience some soreness for a few days when you begin wearing headgear, as your teeth and jaw adjust to the pressure. The key is to wear it consistently as instructed, and not to ignore it for longer periods of time so that you will get used to wearing it and the pain will subside.

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