Dental Appliance

Any device used by a dental professional to treat a short-term or long-term oral health concern is a dental appliance. These range from removable prosthetic devices intended to support or move teeth to permanent fixtures that remain in place to support your oral health over a lifetime.

Examples of permanent dental appliances include braces, fixed retainers, fillings, veneers, bridges, dental implants, and dental crowns. This type of appliance may be used to move teeth into a healthier position, as in the case of braces, or maintain their position, as in the case of fixed retainers. Other permanent dental appliances mimic the use of real teeth and act as a restorative or supportive structure to help the patient reclaim their normal biting and chewing functions.

Removable dental appliances come in just as many varieties. They include Invisalign, mouthguards, dentures, glides, and removable retainers. These appliances can correct tooth positioning, as in the case of Invisalign treatment, but they are usually prescribed for support.

For example, your dentist may prescribe a mouthguard to protect your teeth during contact sports or as a protection against teeth grinding at night, also known as sleeping bruxism. These appliances can be easily customized to treat a short-term oral health need or support a long-term oral health solution.

Regardless of the mechanism, dental appliances support healthy teeth to ensure that they stay healthy. No appliance is a one-size-fits-all solution to all oral health issues. Speak with your dental professional about your symptoms and habits to learn which dental appliance might be right for you.