Twin Block Appliance

In general, Twin Block treatment is recommended for children between the ages of 10 and 14. The main concerns are: First, is your child young enough that their bones are still growing, which will give the best chance of success? And second, are they old enough to be able to wear the Twin Block all day and properly take care of it? For most children, the answers to both of those questions are yes between the ages of 10 and 14. 

If your child is above or below this age range, you should still schedule a consultation with Dr. Maryam Seifi. If she determines from the examination that a Twin Block would not be the best solution for your child, she will recommend other treatment options that may work better for your child's unique needs.

That's okay! The Twin Block has been used for children outside of the 10-14 age range. Even if your child is an older teenager, you should still schedule a consultation with Dr. Maryam Seifi to discuss the best treatment options. She may recommend the Twin Block, or she may suggest another oral appliance that will better address your child's orthodontic needs. Call our office at (301) 818-2653 to schedule your consultation today!

Not at all! That's part of why we love the Twin Block so much. It is a noninvasive treatment, which means it does not require any surgical procedure in order to work. The Twin Block is worn on the upper and lower arches, similar to an orthodontic retainer. It is easily removable for cleaning or sports, and it is simple to put back on yourself.

There are alternative treatment options for both malocclusion and mandibular retrognathia. In general, there are three other options:

• Orthodontic headgear, which is worn outside of the mouth to correct the jaw and teeth 
• Tooth extraction surgery for severe crowding
• Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery, once your child is old enough 

The maxilla is the scientific name for your upper jaw, and the mandible is the scientific name for your lower jaw. So maxillomandibular simply means "relating to the upper and lower jaw." This procedure is done to surgically move your child's jaw forward, which gives their airway more space and corrects retrognathia. 

At Breath of Life Dental, we prefer to use noninvasive treatment options whenever possible. Tooth extraction and MMA surgery will help the orthodontic issues listed above, but so will the Twin Block—without the need for incisions or recovery time. 

Orthodontic headgear does work in a noninvasive way; but because it is worn outside the mouth, it is very noticeable and most children do not want to wear it. That's why we prefer to use the Twin Block, and so do our younger patients!

When you're ready to see for yourself how effective the Twin Block device is, call our office at (301) 818-2653 to schedule your consultation!

For most patients, Twin Block treatment should take 12 months or less to achieve the desired results. This device is incredibly effective and works fast on younger patients because their bodies (and jawbone!) are still growing and developing, which means they are less resistant to changing shape and position. 

Twin Block treatment may be followed by traditional braces or dental aligners to finish straightening your child's teeth, depending on their specific needs.

Your child should wear the Twin Block device 24 hours per day and only remove it to clean it. Wearing the device as long as possible is part of what makes it so effective and keeps the treatment length relatively short (12 months or less). 

If your child participates in contact sports or other rigorous physical activity where they risk getting hit in the face, they can remove the Twin Block to play sports—but it should be put back on as soon as the practice or game is over.

Yes—that's part of the treatment! When you eat, your jaw and temporomandibular joints (TMJ) move together to chew your food. That movement is good exercise to keep your TMJ strong and healthy. But when your lower jaw is misaligned, your TMJ is getting the wrong type of exercise. 

Think of it like trying to do calf muscle exercises to improve your posture. Exercising your calves is good, but if you want good posture, you need to exercise your stomach and back muscles!

The Twin Block helps to exercise and strengthen your jaw and TMJ to bite in proper alignment. That's why you should always wear it while eating—but make sure you take it out to clean it once mealtime is over!

When you take the Twin Block appliance out to brush your teeth, you should also take the time to clean the appliance itself. You can use a separate toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste to gently brush all around the appliance, then rinse it off in warm water. 

It's a good idea to soak your Twin Block in a disinfectant and cleaning solution 1-2 times per week. Make sure you use warm water, not hot water which could damage the appliance. 

You should thoroughly rinse the appliance after each meal to clean off food particles and residue, especially if you eat something sugary. This will keep your Twin Block and your teeth in good shape throughout your treatment.

We will be happy to answer any other questions you have! Call our dental office at (301) 818-2653 to speak with one of our expert staff today! You can also reach out to us online by clicking on this link and filling out the contact form.