In growing children, many orthodontic problems are solved most easily right then — while the jaws are still developing. A removable appliance is usually the first step: it guides growth, widens the jaw and prepares the ground for a beautiful, functional bite.
At a glance
- What it is: an appliance the child removes and inserts themselves — an active plate or a functional appliance
- When: most often in the primary and mixed dentition, while the jaws are growing
- What it does: guides jaw growth, widens a narrow jaw, corrects bite discrepancies, breaks habits (thumb sucking)
- What it does not do: precise alignment of individual teeth — that is the job of fixed braces or aligners
- Key to success: wearing as prescribed — usually 12–14 hours a day, including overnight
- Cost: an estimate is given at your consultation
On this page
- What removable appliances are
- When they are prescribed
- How they work
- Wear and cooperation
- Treatment length
- What comes after
- Cost
- FAQ
What are removable orthodontic appliances?
A removable appliance is a device made of plastic and wire elements that the child inserts and removes themselves. There are active plates (widen the jaw, move individual teeth) and functional appliances (use the jaw muscles to guide the growth of the lower or upper jaw in bite discrepancies). Each is custom-made from an impression.
When are they prescribed?
They are most useful while the jaws are still growing — in children’s dentistry and early orthodontics: a narrow upper jaw, crossbite, pronounced protrusion of the upper teeth, habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting. An early assessment (around age 6–7) shows whether one is needed and when the right moment is.
How do they work?
Systematic reviews confirm that functional appliances genuinely change the jaw relationship in growing children — the mechanism combines growth guidance and tooth movement. The appliance only works while worn: that is why the child’s (and parents’) cooperation is half the result.
Wear and cooperation
The recommendation is usually 12–14 hours a day, including overnight. In the first days speech is slightly harder and saliva more abundant — the habit forms within days. The appliance is removed for eating and brushing and kept in its box.
How long is treatment, and what comes after?
Treatment usually lasts from several months to a year, with regular check-ups. After the removable appliance, most children in permanent dentition move to the precise alignment phase — with fixed braces or, for cooperative teenagers with milder irregularities, clear aligners.
Cost
The cost depends on the appliance type and treatment length; an estimate is given at your consultation with the plan. See our dental price list.
Frequently asked questions
Does a removable appliance hurt?
No — there is a feeling of pressure and strangeness in the first days; adaptation is quick.
What if the child refuses to wear it?
That is the most common reason for failure — which is why the appliance is chosen and planned together with the child, with clear rules and motivating check-ups.
Can adults wear a removable appliance?
In adults the jaws no longer grow, so removable appliances have very limited use — adults are served by fixed braces or aligners.
Does a removable appliance replace fixed braces?
Usually not — it resolves the jaw relationship and width, while fixed braces or aligners precisely align the teeth. Often these are two phases of one plan.
Book a children’s orthodontic assessment
An early assessment does not mean early braces; it means the right moment is not missed. ESTERA, Bokeljska 7, Vračar, Belgrade — +381 66 378 372.
Book a children’s orthodontic assessment: +381 66 378 372
Content prepared and medically reviewed by Dr Nenad Stanković, DDS/DMD, specialist in cosmetology, international lecturer and trainer in aesthetic medicine.