What is the purpose of a facebow?
A facebow is designed to push your rear teeth back so that there is space for the teeth in the front of your mouth. • What Happens If I “Forget” to wear my facebow? Dr Bob If you do not wear your facebow, your orthodontist will not be able to stretch your mouth so all of your teeth fit. Usually, the orthodontist will try another alternative. He may wire in the facebow, so you cannot take it out! He may try a more painful appliance. You need to wear your facebow! Your braces will not work unless you wear them. • How do I use a facebow? Dr Bob Generally, you should wear the facebow for about 12 hours a day. The facebow should be inserted into the two holes on the buccal tubes at the back of your mouth. The facebow should then be connected to the breakaways, and on to the neckpad or other headgear. A facebow should never be worn without a safety strap or breakaway. Diagram Of Different Kinds of Headgear • Are there any dangers with a facebow?
A facebow is used to push your child’s molars distally (back) creating room for the teeth in the front of your child’s mouth. • How does my child use a facebow? Generally, your child should wear the facebow for about 12 hours a day. The face bow should be inserted into the two holes on the buccal tubes at the back of your child’s mouth. The facebow should then be connected to the breakaways, and on to the neckpad or other headgear. We also recommend a facebow safety strap. • Are there any dangers with a facebow? A facebow uses headgear to provide the force needed to move your child’s jaw. There is so called high pull headgear, which has straps over the top of a child’s head, and around his neck, and cervical headgear which only have straps around a child’s neck. Many Manufacturers do not sell high pull headgear because we consider high pull headgear risky. High pull headgear has been known to snap a facebow. In rare cases, the parts from the facebow have been known to go into a child’s
