Description

This removable functional appliance consists of two bite blocks, upper and lower (hence the term Twin Block) which interlock at 70° to hold the lower jaw in a forward position.  The appliance is worn for 7-9 months.  It is the ideal appliance for children who are actively growing ( 10 to 12 years of age is ideal) and who are good cooperators.  It is the ideal appliance to be used when the child appears to have “buck teeth” and the lower jaw is retruded. Is treatment with functional braces always successful? Not necessarily. Obviously, treatment will not work if the appliance is not worn sufficiently well and also works if worn before one reaches 13 years of age. In addition, there are a group of patients who do not respond particularly well to functional braces. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to predict which patients will respond to treatment. Functional appliances are believed to be most successful prior to or during the adolescent growth spurt. This typically occurs between the ages of 11 and 14 in boys and 10 to 13 in girls. Nevertheless, treatment may be suggested at an earlier or later stage in certain circumstances.