Its Not the 80s, Why Do I Need Headgear?

Headgear may give you nightmares of the 1980s, the Katy Perry “Last Friday Night” music video, or any John Hughes movie. Though it may not be the most fashionable accessory, it is a key tool in helping adjust your jaw and your smile, which is the best accessory of all. Headgear is a removable device used with braces to adjust the overbite or underbite of an orthodontia patient. It provides extra pressure and guidance to move teeth and align the jaw. Headgear consists of three main parts. The bands are cemented to your back molars, the wire that attaches the headgear to your teeth, and the headpiece that keeps everything in place. These places can be attached to your braces themselves or plates that are more common because the plates allow the gear to be removed.

Use

Headgear is usually worn to adjust an underbite but can be over in the case of an overbite. It restricts movement on the more prominent part of the jaw so that the opposite side has time to catch up and align with the prior. This can be done in two ways; first by anchoring the back teeth so the retraction of prominent front teeth can be maximized or by moving teeth backwards to create more space in the front of the mouth. While most people just wear headgear at night to avoid embarrassment, it is more affective the more it is worn. Thus, wearing your headgear throughout the day can actually lessen the amount you have to wear your gear in the end. Kids typically wear headgear 12 to 14 hours per day for 9 to 18 months.

Types of Headgear

There are two types of headgear available. The first, called the facebow consists of a wire boy that attached to your upper molars. The bow then connects to a headpiece with a strap that lies behind your neck and head. The second type is called a J Hook. The J Hook attaches your braces to two wire loops instead of a wire bow. The J Hook also uses the same head trap as traditional headgear.

Don’t worry parents and adults; headgear is mainly worn by children who still have developing jawbones. Adults rarely wear headgear because their jaws are fully developed.