A fixed functional appliance is a spring or rod device attached to braces that holds the lower jaw in a forward position while the patient is still growing. It corrects a Class II bite, where the upper teeth sit too far ahead of the lower teeth, and can improve a weak chin profile. It cannot be removed by the patient, so it works around the clock without depending on compliance.
Who benefits?
- Teens with protruding upper teeth and a small or set-back lower jaw
- Large overjet, where the upper front teeth stick out
- Patients who would struggle to wear removable appliances or elastics full time
How it works
The appliance connects the upper and lower braces with a compressed spring. Each time the mouth closes, the spring guides the lower jaw forward. Over months this combines skeletal growth guidance with tooth movement to bring the bite into a Class I relationship.
- Braces firstTeeth are aligned so the appliance can be fitted.
- Appliance fittedSprings are attached to the braces in one visit.
- Correction phaseSmall activations at review visits.
- DetailingThe appliance is removed and braces finish the bite.
Why timing matters
Functional appliances work best during the pubertal growth spurt, roughly 10 to 14 years in girls and 12 to 16 in boys. We assess skeletal maturity from X-rays to pick the right moment.
Who will treat you
Dr. Mukund D. Sawant, MDS (Orthodontics) from PGIMER Chandigarh with All India Rank 1 and residency at AIIMS New Delhi, plans and supervises every fixed functional appliances case at MDS Dental Care & Orthodontics, Badlapur.