Overcoming a small lower jaw with Orthodontics
One of the most common problems orthodontics treat is the discrepancy that occurs when the upper teeth protrude beyond the lower. Ordinarily when we see a patient with the upper teeth protruding, we tend to think that the upper jaw and teeth are too far forward; but, more often than not, this condition is due to a small lower jaw that is further back than it should be. With these patients, we would like to encourage the small lower jaw to catch up in growth, and braces like the Herbst CBJ appliance help this happen.
(Scientific research has shown that removable functional appliances (eg Twin Block) are less effective than fixed appliances like the CBJ, partly because they rely heavily upon patient co-operation.)
CBJ treatment can only be successful while the patient is still growing; once growth is complete, such changes can only be made with the aid of Jaw Surgery.