Head gear or Herbst Appliance....which is more comfortable???!
Question: Head gear or Herbst Appliance!.!.!.!.which is more comfortable!?!?!?
My daughter will eventually need a Herbst appliance or head gear!. A Herbst seems like it's so much metal in her mouth and if you yawn, there's a possibility that it can become detached!. I've googled Herbst and most people said it's really painful!. Head gear is only worn at night so I'm thinking the relief during the day is worth it!. I'd love to hear what others think! Thanks!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Your concerns about the Herbst are good ones!. The detaching isn't too big of a deal because in no time the kids learn how to put it back together, then even get so good at it they can use their tongues to get it together!.
The thing to really differentiate is that headgear is completely dependant on patient cooperation, whereas the Herbst is fixed (cemented into place) therefore constant and not up to the patient's willingness!.
The big issue with discomfort with the Herbst is the insides of the lips and cheeks get rubbed raw initially!. I always compared it to when a person gets the new pair of shoes and the heel blisters!? In time the heel callouses over and it's much tougher to the friction!. The way to deal with the 'rawness' is to encourage her to rinse multiple times a day with warm salt water, which will soothe the irritated tissues!. Also the ortho will provide her with wax which she'll put over the offending piece of the appliance!. It won't stay on all day/night, in fact it will come off & she may swallow it (no worries), but it will provide a temporary break from the friction!.
The Herbst will also keep her teeth apart a bit & she'll need to learn how to eat with it!. Honestly, it's all a big adjustment, but she'll learn to adapt & overcome amazingly fast!.
With headgear, depending on her needs, she may need about 12-14 hours of wear a day!. It won't have to be 12-14 hours straight, so long as she accumulates the hours!. The thing about either of these appliances is they're trying to guide growth & if she's unwilling to wear the headgear the growth changes may never occur!. So if you go headgear, make sure she's totally committed to being compliant & successful!. It'll all be up to her!.
With headgear her molars will ache for about a week from all of a sudden having all this pressure on them!. Advil or Tylenol can help and a softer diet until she's used to it!. Also her sleep will be affected initially!. If she's a big tummy or side sleeper, she'll have the biggest adjustment to make with her sleep!. Also she'll experience some raw cheeks initially from the molar bands, but that too will toughen up!.
Learning to place the facebow of the headgear is tricky at first but they all get there!.
With the Herbst, another thing that's HUGE is her hygiene!. I assume you've seen either a model of one or a picture!? The bar that runs along the cheek side of the lowers!? Where the rod attaches!? She must keep this area really really clean!. I've seen a number of patients not take care of their hygiene and the tissue there puffs up really bad & is so uncomfortable!. Make sure she's on top of that!.
So there are plusses & minuses with both!. Both work well, it just depends on a few things when it comes to making the decision!.
And also for a lot of Herbst patients, once the growth change has occured and the appliance is removed, they may be required to use a headgear at night to hold the changes!.
Good luck, I hope this has helped!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
The thing to really differentiate is that headgear is completely dependant on patient cooperation, whereas the Herbst is fixed (cemented into place) therefore constant and not up to the patient's willingness!.
The big issue with discomfort with the Herbst is the insides of the lips and cheeks get rubbed raw initially!. I always compared it to when a person gets the new pair of shoes and the heel blisters!? In time the heel callouses over and it's much tougher to the friction!. The way to deal with the 'rawness' is to encourage her to rinse multiple times a day with warm salt water, which will soothe the irritated tissues!. Also the ortho will provide her with wax which she'll put over the offending piece of the appliance!. It won't stay on all day/night, in fact it will come off & she may swallow it (no worries), but it will provide a temporary break from the friction!.
The Herbst will also keep her teeth apart a bit & she'll need to learn how to eat with it!. Honestly, it's all a big adjustment, but she'll learn to adapt & overcome amazingly fast!.
With headgear, depending on her needs, she may need about 12-14 hours of wear a day!. It won't have to be 12-14 hours straight, so long as she accumulates the hours!. The thing about either of these appliances is they're trying to guide growth & if she's unwilling to wear the headgear the growth changes may never occur!. So if you go headgear, make sure she's totally committed to being compliant & successful!. It'll all be up to her!.
With headgear her molars will ache for about a week from all of a sudden having all this pressure on them!. Advil or Tylenol can help and a softer diet until she's used to it!. Also her sleep will be affected initially!. If she's a big tummy or side sleeper, she'll have the biggest adjustment to make with her sleep!. Also she'll experience some raw cheeks initially from the molar bands, but that too will toughen up!.
Learning to place the facebow of the headgear is tricky at first but they all get there!.
With the Herbst, another thing that's HUGE is her hygiene!. I assume you've seen either a model of one or a picture!? The bar that runs along the cheek side of the lowers!? Where the rod attaches!? She must keep this area really really clean!. I've seen a number of patients not take care of their hygiene and the tissue there puffs up really bad & is so uncomfortable!. Make sure she's on top of that!.
So there are plusses & minuses with both!. Both work well, it just depends on a few things when it comes to making the decision!.
And also for a lot of Herbst patients, once the growth change has occured and the appliance is removed, they may be required to use a headgear at night to hold the changes!.
Good luck, I hope this has helped!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Umm ive never had either but i am getting braces soon and idk if i need anything like that!. but if i had 2 choose i would go with the head gearWww@Answer-Health@Com