Orthodontic headgear

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Orthodontic headgear is a type of appliance attached to dental braces that aid in correcting severe bite problems.

The most common treatment they are used for is correcting anteroposterior discrepancies - for instance the top teeth being too far forward relative to the lower teeth ("increased overjet".) The headgear is attached to the braces and is anchored from the back of the head or neck. Its purpose is to stop the upper jaw from growing, hence preventing or correcting an overjet.

There is another type of headgear to treat reverse overjets (where the top jaw is not forward enough.) It is similar to a facemask, also attached to braces, and encourages forward growth of the upper jaw.

The headgear can also be used to make more space for teeth to come in. The headgear is then attached to the molars, and helps to draw them backwards in the mouth.

Many orthodontists prefer their patients to wear them 24/7, but, since most people consider headgear to be rather bizarre-looking, 10 to 14 hours of wear per day is preferred, typically at night. However, in some extreme cases, 24 hour treatment is required and mandatory.

The vast majority of patients receiving this treatment are children and teens. Even though very rare, there are some adults requiring this type of treatment.

The need for headgear will reduce in time as more and more orthodontists use temporary implants ("temporary anchorage devices") to perform the same tooth movements.