Family Friendly & Specialty Dentists in London, UK
Our dental clinic located directly in Central London serves Headgear with our team of specialist dentists.
Our dentists serving Headgear treatments are registered specialist dentists in London, who are all registered with the GDC. Our Headgear treatments that we provide to City of London and Greater London Area residents are all approved under BDA, GDC and UK standard guidelines.
You can feel welcome and safe choosing London Dental Specialists for your Headgear in London. You have a full team of dental specialists behind you with a periodontist, orthodontist and endodontist which enables us to take care of your entire smile with any dental procedure necessary for your perfect smile. Don't just take our word for it, watch this video including our real Headgear patients as a testimony to our expertise:
Contact us and lets get started with helping your dental health and comfort with our Headgear treatments, and we can set up a consultation in which we plan our how our Headgear in London can best serve you.
At London Dental Specialists, our orthodontic headgear treatments are meticulously designed to correct bite issues and guide proper jaw alignment. The process begins with a comprehensive consultation and assessment, where our specialist orthodontists evaluate your specific needs. Following this, we develop a customised headgear treatment plan tailored to your unique dental structure. The treatment procedure involves fitting the headgear, which applies gentle pressure to guide jaw growth and tooth movement. Post-treatment care includes regular monitoring and adjustments to ensure optimal results. Our approach ensures that each step is carefully planned and implemented to achieve the best possible outcome for your orthodontic health.
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Principal Dentist & Specialist in Periodontics
BDS MFDS RCS(Ed) MSc(Rest Dent) MClinDent(Perio) MPerioRCS(Ed)
GDC No: 104071
Specialist in Endodontics
BDS MFDS RCS(Ed) FHEA MClinDent(Ed) MEndoRCS(Ed)
GDC No: 150517
Specialist in Orthodontics
DipDS Athens MS(Ortho) OSU
GDC No: 228487
Headgear is a specialised orthodontic appliance used to correct bite issues and support proper jaw alignment during development. At London Dental Specialists, we understand that considering headgear treatment for yourself or your child raises many questions. This external device, worn partially outside the mouth and typically recommended for growing children, works alongside braces to achieve optimal dental alignment. Our patients often want to know about comfort levels, wearing schedules, appearance concerns, and effectiveness. Below, we've addressed the most common questions about orthodontic headgear to help you make informed decisions about this valuable treatment option that can prevent more invasive procedures later in life.
Orthodontic headgear is an external appliance used in conjunction with braces to correct bite issues and support proper jaw alignment. It typically consists of a strap that goes around the back of the head or neck connected to a metal wire (facebow) that attaches to brackets on the teeth. At London Dental Specialists, we prescribe headgear to address specific orthodontic issues that cannot be corrected with braces alone, particularly when jaw growth modification is needed.
Your child might need orthodontic headgear if they have:
Our specialists at London Dental Specialists will conduct a thorough assessment to determine if headgear is the appropriate treatment option for your child's specific orthodontic needs.
The duration for wearing orthodontic headgear varies depending on the individual case and severity of the orthodontic issue. Typically, patients need to wear headgear for 12-16 hours per day for 6-18 months. With consistent wear as directed and regular check-ups at London Dental Specialists, treatment time can be minimised. Our orthodontists will provide a personalised timeline based on your child's specific treatment plan.
Patients may experience mild discomfort or pressure when first wearing orthodontic headgear or after adjustments. This discomfort typically subsides within a few days as the mouth adapts. At London Dental Specialists, we ensure proper fitting to minimise discomfort and provide guidance on pain management techniques. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help alleviate initial soreness if needed. Most patients adjust to wearing headgear within 1-2 weeks.
At London Dental Specialists, we offer several types of orthodontic headgear based on patients' specific needs:
Our orthodontists will recommend the most appropriate type based on your specific treatment needs.
Proper care of orthodontic headgear ensures effective treatment and comfort. We recommend:
Our team will provide detailed care instructions specific to your type of headgear.
We generally recommend removing orthodontic headgear during sports activities for safety reasons. Contact and high-impact sports pose a particular risk of damage to both the headgear and potentially causing injury. At London Dental Specialists, we work with patients to adjust their wearing schedule to accommodate sports activities while still meeting the required daily wear time. For some sports, special protective equipment may be recommended in addition to temporarily removing the headgear.
While there is an adjustment period, most patients adapt well to wearing orthodontic headgear. It may initially affect speech and eating, but these challenges typically resolve within 1-2 weeks. We recommend wearing headgear after school and during sleep to minimise social concerns. At London Dental Specialists, we provide strategies to help patients incorporate headgear wear into their routine with minimal disruption to daily activities. Consistent wear as directed is essential for successful treatment outcomes.
Inconsistent wear of orthodontic headgear can significantly impact treatment outcomes, potentially leading to:
At London Dental Specialists, we emphasise the importance of following the prescribed wear schedule and offer support strategies to help patients maintain compliance. Regular check-ups allow us to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.
| Product | Brands | What it Takes Care of | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headgear Cleaning Solution | Orthodent, Steradent | Hygiene maintenance | Specially formulated to clean headgear components without damaging the metal parts. |
| Soft Bristle Toothbrush | Oral-B Sensitive, Colgate Extra Soft | Cleaning headgear attachments | For gentle cleaning of headgear components and attachment points. |
| Orthodontic Wax | Ortho Wax, Boots Orthodontic Wax | Comfort management | Helps prevent irritation where headgear connects to braces or teeth. |
| Antimicrobial Mouth Rinse | Corsodyl, Listerine Total Care Zero | Oral hygiene | Helps maintain oral health while wearing headgear by reducing bacteria. |
| Headgear Padding Kit | OrthoPad, DentaComfort | Comfort enhancement | Additional padding to prevent discomfort from headgear pressure points. |
| Interdental Brushes | TePe, Wisdom Clean Between | Detailed cleaning | For cleaning around headgear attachment points and brackets. |
| Headgear Storage Case | OrthoCase, Boots Dental Care | Protection and storage | Hygienic storage when headgear is not being worn. |
| Alcohol-Free Mouthwash | Dentyl pH, Oral-B Pro-Expert | Gentle rinsing | Won't irritate areas where headgear may cause slight sensitivity. |
| Timer/Compliance Tracker | OrthoTimer, DentaTrack | Treatment adherence | Helps track daily wear time to ensure treatment effectiveness. |
| Sensitivity Relief Toothpaste | Sensodyne, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief | Sensitivity management | Helps with any tooth sensitivity caused by orthodontic movement. |
| Headgear Adjustment Tool | OrthoKey, DentaFix | Minor adjustments | For making small comfort adjustments at home (as advised by orthodontist). |
| Travel Cleaning Kit | Superdrug Orthodontic Kit, Boots Travel Dental Kit | On-the-go care | Compact kit for maintaining headgear hygiene when away from home. |
