The bonded bite plane is used to prevent the lower front teeth from
“biting” into the tissue behind the upper front teeth thus causing
damage to the tissue and teeth. By “opening” the bite in the front of
the mouth, it allows the back teeth to erupt more in order to correct
this problem.
The bonded bite plane is also used to correct a severe over-bite (the
upper front teeth closing too far over the lower front teeth) in the
same way.
The bonded bite plane is made by placing a small amount of bonding
material to the backside of the upper teeth to create a triangular
plane. After correction, the doctor removes the plane by “polishing” it
away with a special high-speed instrument.
It is important for patients to keep the tissue area surrounding the
bite planes very clean. Watching out for hard foods that could break off
these planes is also important. There are times when one of the planes
may come off. This is okay, because as long as there is one remaining,
the job can be accomplished.
The posterior bite plane is used in cases where the front teeth form
an anterior open-bite when the teeth are in a biting position. The
posterior bite plane opens the posterior by the use of a plastic
retainer- like appliance, which is built in the molar and pre-molar area
to allow teeth to erupt into a corrected position.
Rubber bands or elastics contribute a lot to straighter teeth. They
are marvels of physics. Attached to your braces, elastics exert the
force that creates the right amount of pressure to move teeth in
directions that the braces alone can’t. They don’t work without you.
It’s important to wear your elastics as prescribed.
The best-known type is the Hawley retainer, which includes a metal
wire that surrounds the teeth and keeps them in place. Named for its
inventor, Dr. Charles Hawley, the labial wire, or Hawley bow,
incorporates 2 omega loops for adjustment. It is anchored in an acrylic
arch that sits in the palate (roof of the mouth). The advantage of this
type of retainer is that the metal wires can be adjusted to finish
treatment and continue moving teeth as needed
