Preventive and interceptive orthodontics for the 5 to 12 year-old. Functional appliances: the Nite-Guide and...

hree orthodontic procedures are described that are used to prevent, intercept, and correct malocclusions at three distinct stages of dental development. Each stage of development (5 to 7 years, 8 to 12 years, and 12 years through adulthood) uses an appliance selected from a series of several preformed sizes. All have predicted socket dimensions to receive unerupted, erupting or fully erupted teeth. These sockets are prearranged in a perfect Class I occlusion. In the first group of appliances, specifically designed for the 5 to 7 year-old (called Nite-Guide), one selects a single size that is large enough to accommodate the teeth after they become straight. This appliance is worn passively while sleeping and simply guides the incoming incisors to straighten themselves using only their own force of eruption. Once straight, the adult collagenous fibers form and thereby prevent most future relapse from occurring. At the same time, the incoming incisors are prevented from over-erupting into a deep overbite and the mandible is advanced to correct any excess overjet. Similarly-designed appliances are also used to correct malocclusions in the mixed and adult dentitions. To obtain optimum results at these ages, active wear of about two hours per day is required. The treatment time is very fast (1 to 12 months in most cases) and the same appliance is also used as the retainer of choice. Most malocclusion problems such as crowding, rotations, overbite, overjet and TMD are 80 to 95% corrected in those wearing the appliance as directed.