DENTAL APPLIANCES
A dental appliance refers to any device that assists in your dental treatment plan. These appliances can be permanent or removable. They perform a variety of functions, including:
- Treatment of sleep apnea
- Dental expansion
- TMJ treatment
- Increasing stability
- Optimizing occlusion
- Encouraging normal facial muscle function
- Protecting from outside forces
- Opening airways
- Straightening/shifting teeth
- Repositioning jaw/arches
- Tooth replacement
- Snore Relief
Some dental appliances treat only one of these functions, while other appliances are multi-function. Some are worn during the day and others at night. There are a few appliances that need to be worn nearly 24 hours each day. For some appliances, you will visit with your dentist regularly for adjustments, while other appliances do not require adjusting or can be done at home. All dental appliances made by Natural Dentist Associates are custom fitted to your teeth and mouth. During your consultation, your dentist will work with you to develop a plan of treatment tailored to your specific dental needs.
Schedule a consultation today to see which appliance is right for you!
Types of Appliances
TMJ/TMD
- DNA
- ALF
- mRNA
- SilentNite
- Traditional Night Guard
- Daytime Appliance
- Schwarz Appliance
- Sports Guard
- Essix Retainer
- Invisalign
As you can see, sometimes it is possible to treat a variety of conditions all with one appliance. Because of the wide range of health benefits from dental appliances, Natural Dentist Associates has a physical therapist on staff to assist in this life changing oral appliance therapy when necessary. Keep reading to learn more about the dental appliances we offer.
ALF Appliance
Advanced Lightwire Functionals (ALF) is a removable appliance that uses the principles of cranial osteopathy to achieve orthodontic results in a non-traditional method. The ALF appliance uses wires to reposition jaws, arches and teeth, promoting changes in muscle function to achieve desired results.
Daytime Appliance
Daytime Appliances are custom-made appliances designed to treat patients who suffer from temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ/TMD). These appliances are worn during the day, and work by protecting teeth, improving the jaw muscles and TMJ function.
DNA Appliance
The Daytime Nighttime Appliance (DNA) is a removable appliance that is worn during the evening and night to correct underdevelopment in the craniofacial region. DNA uses the principles of epigenetic orthodontics to activate naturally occurring genes over time. This appliance is incredibly unique because of it’s wide range of benefits.
Essix Retainer
An Essix Retainer is a thin transparent covering that conforms to the contours of your natural teeth to maintain tooth positioning, typically after orthodontic treatment is complete. This retainer will help to keep teeth from shifting over time.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a form of orthodontic treatment which involves wearing a series of clear removable aligners to gradually straighten your teeth over time. Unlike traditional braces, there are no brackets and wires involved.
mRNA
The mandibular Repositioning Nighttime Appliance (mRNA) is worn in the evening and at night to bring the lower jaw forward and stimulate growth in the upper jaw to remodel the airway. This appliance is a potential cure for TMD as well as sleep apnea.
Night Guard
Also known as an occlusal guard, a nightguard is a cover worn to protect and cushion the teeth from the damages caused by clenching and grinding (bruxism). Wearing a nightguard also helps to reestablish the natural space between upper and lower teeth.
Schwarz Appliance
The Schwarz Appliance is a removable expansion appliance that works by applying pressure on both teeth and palatal tissue. Appliance adjustments are done at home by turning the expansion key once or twice a week.
SilentNite
The SilentNite Appliance is an effective and non-invasive snoring solution. It works by shifting the lower jaw into a forward position, which opens the airway and decreases tissue vibration that cause snoring and sleep apnea.
Sports Guard
A sports guard is a protecting cover worn over teeth while playing contact sports and doing other physical activities. There are many options for sports guards, but the best kind is one made by your dentist to fit your teeth specifically.
We primarily serve Rockville, North Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton, Potomac, Washington DC, Gaithersburg, Kensington, Germantown, Burtonsville, Laurel, Columbia and Northern Virginia (Mclean, Tysons Corner, Great Falls, Arlington ) but people travel from all over the country for our specialty and holistic dental services.