Minor Tooth Movement with an Inman Appliance
Is an Inman Removable Appliance Right For You?
This Inman appliance will bring the lateral incisors back in line and close the gaps.
Moving a few teeth can make a big difference in your smile. This may be done for esthetics, for improved function, to allow more conservative restorations because teeth are positioned more favorably in the arch, or for some combination of the above. The Inman removable appliance shown here is very useful to complete minor front tooth movement for either upper or lower teeth.
Patients are often unwilling to go into full braces to accomplish tooth movement but are quite willing to wear a removable appliance that will help to improve their smile. If more advanced tooth movement is necessary to accomplish the goals of better esthetics and function, then braces or reconstructive dentistry may be a better option.
In a smile, most Inman appliances look like a retainer and are comfortable to wear.
The Inman removable appliance works by pushing on some teeth while pulling on others. Smooth ‘bumpers’ press from inside the arch or pull back from outside the arch to help create a smooth, esthetic arch form. We recommend wearing the Inman appliance for 15 or more hours per day, including sleeping with the appliance in at night. Of course, tooth movement only occurs when the appliance is being worn, so patients in a hurry to complete their treatment know that they should wear the removable appliance as much as possible. Because an Inman appliance is removable, the patient has the option of going without it should this be desirable – for example that party they have been looking forward to.
Following tooth movement, the Inman removable appliance can be worn as a retainer, or we will make one for you to help keep the teeth where they have been moved. Retainers may need to be worn just at night – sometimes only a couple nights per week – to maintain the new tooth position.
We would be happy to discuss options to improve your smile with an Inman removable appliance. There may be other options as well! Please call our office to set up an appointment or to ask any questions that you might have.
Our office is located in Grand Junction, Colorado. Our phone number is (970) 242-3635. You can email us at jgillis@rosemontdev.com. Our office now has a Facebook page and we would love for you to ‘like’ us! On Facebook, find us at Julie M Gillis DDS PC. Or, please visit our website at www.juliegillisdds.com for further information.