Seemingly innocent habits such as thumb-sucking or thrusting the tongue against the back of the teeth can have long-lasting orthodontic consequences. If your child has a habit of sucking their fingers or thrusting their tongue, our orthodontist can recommend a habit appliance to help break them of the behavior. Habit appliances are thin metal devices worn over the teeth to deter your child.

Appliances can also be used to guide your child’s tongue into a better placement during rest or when swallowing. Be sure to schedule a consultation with our orthodontist to determine if your child can benefit from a habit appliance.

If your child is missing teeth due to decay or injury, our orthodontist may recommend a holding appliance. Holding appliances, also known as space-maintaining appliances, are used to keep your child’s teeth from shifting to compensate for the missing tooth.

A holding appliance can hold the alignment of your child’s teeth until a permanent tooth grows in or the tooth is replaced. Our orthodontist will conduct a thorough exam of your child’s mouth and can recommend a number of appliances for your child’s needs.