The Woodlands & Montgomery Dental Appliance for Overbites
Bite Down on a Straighter Smile
The Forsus appliance from Manning Orthodontics can help correct an overbite and get you or your child a straighter, healthier smile.
What Is a Forsus Appliance?
A Forsus appliance—also called a Forsus spring—is a device used to help correct overbites. In a nutshell, it works by moving the upper teeth back and the lower teeth forward.
More specifically, the Forsus appliance is a spring coil rod that connects your upper and lower braces and applies continuous pressure to develop your lower jaw and push your bottom teeth forward while moving your upper teeth back.
The Forsus appliance accomplishes similar results to the headgear that were very common years ago—except that this state-of-the-art appliance:
- Is much more comfortable
- Works more quickly
- Offers a more efficient treatment
In most cases, the Forsus appliance can eliminate the need for headgear, premolar teeth extractions, or corrective jaw surgery.
Benefits of the Forsus Appliance
- Installs quickly: The Forsus appliance is quick to install and typically only requires one appointment.
- Doesn’t interrupt daily life: This appliance allows you to move your jaw normally, meaning eating and speech won’t be affected.
- Improved hygiene: The Forsus appliance has no gaps in its coils, so you don’t have to worry about food becoming trapped.
- Comfortable and easy to maintain: The Forsus appliance is not bulky and is easy to clean.
- Replaces elastics: With the Forsus appliance, Dr. Manning can correct your overbite without the use of elastics—meaning you don’t have to remember to wear rubber bands.
What to Expect With
Your Forsus Appliance
Dr. Manning will use your Forsus springs in conjunction with braces. Typically, you’ll wear the appliance for 3 – 8 months.
As a bonus, unlike rubber bands or headgear, you won’t have to remember to wear your appliance. Forsus springs work around the clock to provide consistent, gentle forces so your treatment time is as efficient as possible.
What Will Your Forsus Appliance Feel Like?
In the beginning, you might notice some discomfort as your teeth adjust to the new orthodontic appliance. This is normal and should lessen in a few days.
If your soreness doesn’t go away and you find the spring gets in your way, contact Dr. Kendra Manning, as you might need an adjustment on the fit.
What If My Forsus Spring Causes Irritation?
It’s normal to have small sores on the inside of your cheeks while your mouth adjusts to the spring. To help alleviate this common issue, try placing some cotton rolls in between the Forsus spring and your cheek until your mouth adjusts to the appliance.
The Forsus appliance is designed to stay away from your teeth when you’re taking a bite and chewing.
Because the appliance can break or become dislodged from your braces if you move your jaw excessively, try not to wiggle the spring or open your mouth too wide, as that could disrupt the spring.
If the spring gets in the way when you close your mouth, don’t bite on the appliance. Biting might break it or cause injury to your teeth and the inside of your mouth.
If you find that the spring is preventing you from closing your mouth, please call our The Woodlands or Montgomery office and schedule a time to have the Forsus spring checked.
Can I Still Eat Normally With the Forsus Appliance?
While you should be able to eat the vast majority of your favorite foods after being fitted with a Forsus appliance, we do ask that you a couple of precautions to keep from damaging the springs:
- Avoid hard or sticky foods
- Be sure to cut your food into smaller pieces
How Do I Clean a Forsus Appliance?
Keeping your Forsus orthodontic appliance and your teeth clean is key to maintaining your braces and an overall positive orthodontic experience.
Try to brush your teeth immediately after eating so that food particles don’t have a chance to stay stuck in your braces or your Forsus appliance.
If you have any questions or are experiencing issues with your Forsus appliance, call Dr. Pratt Manning Orthodontics at our The Woodlands office at 281-367-0050 or our Montgomery office at 936-596-1200 today!
Forsus Appliance FAQs
With the Forsus appliance, you can get rid of overbites, encourage lower jaw growth, and improve your occlusion—or the way your teeth fit together. In many cases, using this appliance can prevent future jaw surgeries.
Before you or your child decides to get this treatment, read on to learn more about the process and what to expect.