Functional appliances all have a similar purpose: to help your jaws develop normally, and help you achieve facial balance. The two appliances most commonly used are the Bionator and Twin Block. They are removable appliances.

The Twin Block appliance is used to help a receded jaw grow forward and skinny or narrow jaws grow wider to help you keep all of your permanent teeth. If you have an overbite (buck teeth), it's usually caused by your lower jaw not growing out enough; on the other hand, crowded teeth most frequently mean that your jaw did not grow wide enough. These are the cases in which the orthodontist may recommend a Twin Block - sometimes adding a few braces and wires to help give your appliance a head start.

If your teeth aren't crowded, however, but your jaw is receded, the orthodontist may recommend the Bionator appliance. And it may be that your course of treatment will require one appliance at one time in the process and the other one at another time. The important thing to remember is that these appliances can give you a really NICE face - a face that looks much more "balanced," with a normal jaw line and a pleasing smile.

Your jaw really needs a lot of persuading to grow properly. So, your functional appliance must be worn nearly all of the time. That means only taking the appliance out at meals, sports, and for some language lessons at school.

Success with removable appliances depends on your being an active team member by wearing them as directed by the doctor. For most patients, this success takes 12 to 24 months, the actual time depends on how fast you grow and how helpful you are with your own treatment.

Growing jaws is hard work. If you persevere, you will see improvements in a few months - changes that will last a lifetime.