Appliance Thearpy

What Is Orthodontic Appliance Therapy?

Do you have minor crookedness or crowding of your front teeth? At Crescent Dental, we are pleased to offer removable orthodontic appliance therapy to quickly and effectively straighten your front teeth in a matter of weeks. Compared to traditional and invisible braces, the removable orthodontic appliance therapy is also more cost effective.  Orthodontic appliances are used to address a variety of concerns such as correcting cross bites (over lapped teeth), crowded teeth, expanding under developed jaws, to open deep bites and to break oral habits such as thumb sucking.

The Inman Aligner the most widely used orthodontic appliance to alleviate minor crowding of the front teeth.  

How Does The Inman Aligner Work?

The Inman Aligner is a removable appliance used to move teeth over time. The Aligner relies on forces created by coiled springs that gently “push” and “pull” the front teeth into a nearly ideal position in a shorter period of time than braces.

What Are Some Advantages Of The Inman Aligner?

 • It is a faster, cost-effective alternative to traditional and invisible braces.
 • Only one appliance is required – no need to change every 2 weeks.
 • It can be easily removed to eat and clean your teeth.

Is Everyone A Candidate For The Inman Aligner?

No. The Inman Aligner is limited to movements of the upper and lower front teeth. For most patients with mildly crowded, tipped or rotated front teeth, it is a fast and effective solution that can have you smiling with confidence in a matter of weeks. It is not a treatment for the full arch (all your teeth) and may not be suitable for heavily crowded situations.  For more complex cases Invisalign or braces are more appropriate.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

Treatment times for most cases generally range from six to sixteen weeks. Simple cases can complete in a little over 2 months and more complex cases might take 4 months or so. Naturally, more crowded front teeth will require more time. The speed of the results is highly dependent upon how long you wear the appliance each day. It is recommended that you wear your appliance for at least 20 hours a day, every day, until treatment is complete.

What Are The Appliances Made Of?

Orthodontic appliances are made of acrylic (the plastic piece which can be any color that you want), stainless steel wires and nickel titanium alloy springs.

Do I Need A Retainer After Appliance Therapy?

Yes. The good news is that many times the appliance that you used to move your teeth can be modified to be used as a retainer at the end of treatment. This cuts down on the extra retainer expense.



                                                                
                                               Maxillary rapid palatal expander                                               Mandibular Schwartz expander


                                                                
                                                   Maxillary Inman appliance                                                       Mandibular Inman appliance