How does headgear work?

Question

My orthodontist said that I will probably have my braces on for about two years. I am reaching the end of my first year and I haven't worn my headgear all that much. My orthodontist recommended that I stop wearing it for a time because my jaw was popping (there is some fancy term for this that I do not recall). Anyway, he did not explain how the headgear works at all and I hate wearing it when I don't even know what it is doing. My overbite is not horrific, it is barely noticeable. All he said to me is that the headgear works differently than the elastics that you connect from top to bottom. What is the difference? And I know it's silly but there is one more thing I am worried about...will it change the way my face looks? Because I look considerably different when I have the headgear on than without. Sorry for the many questions. It would be nice if you answered them all. :] I should have my braces off by the end of my sophomore year!

Answer 1

GEEZE, I'd like to know the answer to this too. I've had braces on and off since 5th grade. I get my braces off probably near the end of my sohpmore year too, just like you. &I have to wear a headgear 14 hours a day. I'd say i wear it about 5 hours a day. (x I CAN NOT WEAR IT AT NIGHT, it bothers me. I try to sleep with it, but i can't. and as soon as i take off my headgear at night i feel so much better and can sleep better.

I don't get it , wtf does the headgear even do. It's just attached to the our back front teeth. but i don't understand what it's doing to those teeth. Im thinking that the head gear is pushing my front teeth back, but that doesn't make sense the way the head gear is designed.

im super scared about having my braces off in a year. I think i look good having braces, rather than not having them. without my braces my two front teeth really show. i have the worst front teeth. my two front ones are big and the two teeth next to them are freakin small ! their not even the same width & height. it looks ridiculous. with my braces, it at least covers my huge front teeth a bit.

my overbite isn't that bad. although i can't close my mouth. lol, well i can. but i have to make myself close it. like , you know those people , when their not talking their moouths automatically can close ? it's hard for me to close my mouth 'cus of my overbite . so i have to force my mouth close, and that looks funny. ugh i really wish i could have had perfect straight teeth.

haha so like, sorry i didn't answer your question. o____o

but i don't know the answer either. =x

Answer 2

ok, i'm 13 and i've had braces on and off since 4th grade...(goin into 8th)...i've had a bad overbite for a long time but now it is being fixed..........unless you are goin to a very un-technological orthodontist, headgear shouldn't be an option..........my sister had that in the 80's and now they have the herptz appliance to replace it. that is what i have in my mouth now to bring my jaw forward....i don't really look that much different, but it does look nicer so you don't look like you have a sunken chin.......i hope this helps.....also here are some pics of the appliance and some info on it!!:

http://www.drhoagburg.com/media/braces/h...

http://www.drhoagburg.com/bra/bra_herbst...

this isn't my orthodontist, and these pics look a little different from mine (but differnt dentists do it differnt ways and it depends on ur teeth) but i hope this helps!!

♥vb♥