Calgary Orthodontic News & Reviews: Orthotropics™: Oral Posture & Proper Facial Growth
The Crozat ‘light wire appliance’ for Calgary Orthodontic patients!
Calgary, Alberta Orthodontist provides Invisible Arch Development with light wire Crozat, Kernott, and ALF appliances.
The Crozat light wire orthodontic appliance, in place behind the upper teeth.
Dr. Ward began to study the Crozat technique in 2001 when he joined the American Academy of Gnathologic Orthopedics and completed their Orthodontic curriculum as a general dentist. Since that time he has utilized Crozat appliances and its successors, the even lighter Kernott appliance (developed by Dr. Bob Kernott) and the ALF appliance (developed by Dr. Darick Nordstrom) because:
- Their minimally invasive size which takes up LESS tongue space
- Their relative invisibility when in the mouth
- Their physiologic forces that gently move teeth
- Their versatility and what can be accomplished without bulky appliances and painful surgery
What is a Crozat Light Wire Appliance?
The Crozat light wire orthodontic appliance, in place behind the bottom teeth.
What is a Crozat? Its a light wire orthodontic appliance invented and popularized in the early 1900′s by Dr. George B. Crozat (1894-1966). Dr. Crozat was a graduate of the Dewey School of Orthodontics in 1916 who practiced in New Orleans, Louisianna.
Dr. Crozat preferred lighter forces when moving teeth that he felt would give nature a chance to “express herself” and would allow the natural forces of function to have an influence on the positions of the teeth. To Crozat, this allowed changes in muscle function that were as important, if not more important, than the specific tooth movements.
In children, Crozat appliances allow nearly invisible development of the dental arches to make room for permanent teeth and avoid painful extractions. The light forces of Crozat appliances are far more gentle and physiologic than those of and bulky acrylic “jack-screw” appliances that “rapidly expand the palate.” Since it’s a removable appliance, the Crozat allows better oral hygiene for both adults and children.
The popularity of Invisalign® has shown how important it is for many patients to wear appliances that make the orthodontics “invisible”. Crozats fill that need very well. For example, they have been ideal for many patients who are “ITB” (i.e., “in the (acting) business”) in California, precisely because they can be removed at times when filming takes place. While Invisalign® is not usually indicated in the mixed dentition for child actors, Crozats can often work well at that time because they can be continually modified when necessary. For adults, Crozats are often even more inconspicuous than Invisalign®. If fixed appliances or Invisalign® are utilized in combination with Crozats, the Crozats will minimize the amount of time in braces or aligners.
Dr. Ward is now an instructor for the AAGO and teaches three of their 5 continuing education courses given each year.
