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Functional appliance

Functional appliances use the muscle action from speaking, eating, and swallowing to create forces that move teeth and align the jaws. Some functional appliances are removable, and others are bonded to the teeth. A functional appliance may fit between the upper and lower teeth or may span across the mouth between the molars, pressing the bone outward.

Primary Medical Reviewer Martin Gabica, MD
- Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer William F. Hohlt, DDS
- Orthodontics
Last Updated February 5, 2007

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: February 05, 2007
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