The use of dental appliances can lead to significant health improvements beyond just a straighter smile:
: Includes mouthguards for sports, night guards for bruxism (teeth grinding), and specialized tools like the Bluegrass appliance used to stop thumb-sucking habits. Clinical Applications and Benefits
: Specifically designed for sleep disorders, these include Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) which pull the jaw forward to open the airway during sleep.
Modern dentistry utilizes several types of appliances, often categorized by their function: