Category: Functional Growth Appliances
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Rapid Palatal Expander: Pro’s and Con’s
How can a palate be expanded? There are three main options for expanding a palate: ALF (Alternative Light-wire Functional): a very light wire appliance that exerts a subtle force over time, attracting the tongue to the roof of the mouth, and encouraging a stable swallow pattern. The ALF is adjusted both by the action of…
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ALF for Palatal Expansion
Palatal expansion is a commonly needed component of Interceptive Orthodontic Therapy, which is also called “early orthodontics” or “phase one orthodontics.” As dentists, we often suggest orthodontic expansion (making enough room in the mouth for the tongue and the teeth) while a child is in the pre-puberty phase. This is because the upper jaw (maxilla)…
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Advanced Lightwire Functional (ALF) Appliance
I spent the past 2 days in ALF (Advanced Lightwire Functional) appliance training with Dr. Mike Hoefs. Dentistry in America is continuously recognizing new heroes, who have bravely look at the way the teeth are connected to the rest of the body — Dr. Hoefs is one such hero of mine! Wow! The science behind this…