Headgear

Headgear must be worn from 12-14 hours per day. This is often easiest during sleeping hours, and in the late afternoon and evening. Extra wear on weekends and holidays is helpful as well. The bottom line is: the more the headgear is worn per day, the faster the correction proceeds.

When you first receive the headgear, it is set at a light force. Wear it during the first week for a few hours after supper to let the teeth get used to the force. Expect the teeth to be sore! The next week, gradually increase the hours until you are wearing it all evening and through the night.

• Please expect the headgear to be clumsy to sleep with at first. You will get used to it! If it comes off a lot at night it needs to be tightened, so go ahead and move up a hole or two on each side. You are also free to move up if you feel less pressure on the molar teeth.
• Please bring the headgear with you to each visit so that the tension can be adjusted as the teeth move. Also, if a molar band comes off, bring it with you to your appointment so that it can be re-cemented.
• If you are unable to wear it the hours per night required, please call immediately to have it corrected. A missed night is equivalent to the loss of four days wear!
• For most patients, the headgear needs to be worn a minimum of 12-14 hours per day. Any less, the teeth aren’t moving.
• If some wear time is missed you can make up for it with extra wear, i.e. during the day and on weekends.
• There are other options if the headgear isn’t worn, but headgear is by far the best way to correct your bite.WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS WITH HEADGEAR IF IT IS WORN!

  WORK HARD: THE RESULTS WILL BE WORTH IT!

For more information regarding the care and maintenance of your braces, please visit www.braces.org, the official site of the American Association of Orthodontists.