Fruge Orthodontics is proud to utilize the latest orthodontic technologies to deliver the best results for our patients. Orthodontic technology is a subset of dental tech that relates to the innovation, designing, and manufacturing of dental appliances to be used for treating tooth irregularities and malocclusions. There are three main variations: functional, active, and passive technologies.

Functional Orthodontic Technologies

Functional Orthodontics focuses on techniques that don’t relate to extraction or pain. The functional orthodontic will exert force on the mandible/maxilla in order to create change in the mouth. The muscle actions of the patient can also be recruited by some of the orthodontic devices to correct imbalances. Orthopaedic forces can be provided by both fixed and removable tech, which will be utilized depending on the needs as evaluated by your orthodontist.

Active Orthodontic Technologies

Active appliances are orthodontics that can be used to exert force on the teeth to change their relationship with one another. Removable active appliances use basic tipping movements, while fixed active appliances such as palatal expanders are meant to hold their place in the mouth to move teeth over time.

Passive Orthodontic Technologies

Passive appliances are typically used only during the night once your fixed appliance has been taken out for the day. Frequently, they are used in order to keep your teeth in place so that any grinding can be minimized, and clenching won’t undo some of the progress from the orthodontic appliances used earlier.

Below you'll find a list of some of the cutting-edge technologies used by our team.

Damon braces are smaller than traditional braces

Our office is pleased to offer Damon Smile braces. Damon braces use a slide mechanism to hold the archwire, reducing the amount of pressure on the teeth and allowing the teeth to move more freely, quickly and comfortably. They are smaller than traditional brackets allowing a more comfortable and discreet treatment experience.

More about braces
Damon Clear Brackets | Fruge Orthodontics

Damon Clear offers all the benefits of traditional braces with a much more subtle aesthetic.

More about Damon Clear

Elastics (Rubber Bands): Wearing elastics (or rubber bands) improves the fit of your upper and lower teeth. Wear rubber bands as instructed, and remember that the rubber bands work far more efficiently if they’re worn as prescribed.

Forsus™ Springs: The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device is an alternative to headgear that promotes growth in adolescents, helping to eliminate excessive overbites, improve the fit of teeth, and possibly prevent the need for jaw surgery.

Carriere Distalizer: The Carriere Distalizer is used to move the upper molars backwards while moving the lower teeth forward. The combination of these two movements corrects a moderate overbite in growing patients.

Herbst® Appliance: The Herbst® appliance reduces overbite by encouraging the lower jaw forward and the upper molars backward. This fixed appliance is used mostly for younger, growing children and is worn for about 12-15 months.

Palatal Expander: The palatal expander “expands” (or widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. Your orthodontist will instruct you about when and how to adjust your expander. When you achieve the desired expansion, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent regression.

Space Maintainer: Space maintainers are used in cases when baby teeth are lost prematurely. They work by keeping the back permanent teeth from shifting forward which holds enough space for the remaining permanent teeth to grow in.

Retainers: Retainers may be removable or fixed. They hold your teeth in their new, correct positions after your teeth have been straightened. Your orthodontist will instruct you on how to care for your retainer and about the duration of the wear. Wearing your retainer as directed is crucial to prevent regression of your treatment.

Separators or Spacers: Separators are little rubber doughnuts that may be placed between your teeth to push them apart so that orthodontic bands may be placed during your next appointment. The separators will be removed before we place the bands. Separators do not mix well with sticky foods, toothpicks, or floss.

Headgear: Headgear is used to treat patients whose teeth are in an overbite, with the upper jaw forward of the lower jaw, or an underbite with the lower jaw forward of the upper jaw. Headgear gently “pulls” on your teeth to restrict further forward growth of your upper teeth and jaw.