DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPEDICS
Guiding your child's growth and development
You may have noticed that our orthodontist, Dr. Godley, specializes in “orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics." While orthodontics refers to managing tooth movement, dentofacial orthopedics refers to guiding healthy growth and development of the face and jaws.
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Facial growth and development occurs mostly during childhood, which is the reason why children and pre-teens are often the best candidates for receiving growth guidance therapy.
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Treatment with an orthopedic appliance depends on what imbalances are present and what the treatment goals are. Sometimes orthopedic treatments may be needed prior to orthodontic treatment, but often the two are accomplished at the same time.
Dentofacial orthopedic appliances help in guiding the growth of the facial bones and jaws. They can be used redirect growth and address a variety of jaw deformities and imbalances. For example, sometimes jaws do not grow wide enough and form very narrow. This can cause crossbites, open bites, and airway issues.
Another situation where growth guiding appliances come into play is when there are significant imbalances between the upper and lower jaws. For instance, if the lower jaw is too far back (retrusive) compared to the upper jaw, a functional appliance might be used. This type of device helps reposition the jaw as the child grows. In other instances, jaws can grow too much, as in a protrusive lower jaw.
Growth guiding appliances help encourage proper alignment without the need for surgery. However, their effect on jaws can only be harnessed while kids and teens are growing. Examples of appliances that might be used include the Herbst appliance, Mara appliance, Twin Block, Reverse Pull Facemask, as well as Maxillary Palatal Expanders.​
Because our orthodontist is skilled in all areas of orthodontics, she is a specialist at diagnosing misalignments in the teeth, jaws, and facial structure. Dr. Godley will develop a treatment plan that integrates both orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic treatments.