Orthodontic Appliances in Shelby Township
An orthodontic appliance is a device you wear during or after treatment. Dr. Thomas Fredal Jr. is an orthodontic specialist in Shelby Township. He uses retainers and expanders. One is MARPE (an expander held by tiny screws). He also uses the Herbst, the MARA and the facemask.
*For new patients only. Patients transferring from another orthodontist: $250 consultation fee, credited toward treatment if they start here.
Custom Dental Appliances at Fredal Orthodontics
Fredal Orthodontics makes clear retainers in the office. After your scan, a model of your teeth is printed on the practice’s SprintRay 3D printer. The retainer is then thermoformed (heated and shaped) over that model. Essix retainers (clear plastic retainers) can be delivered the same visit.
Invisalign patients get Vivera retainers, the Invisalign brand of retainer, which the practice orders. Read more about retainer options.
Expanders and other metal appliances are designed digitally. A specialized orthodontic lab 3D prints them. This digital approach allows Fredal Orthodontics to create highly customized appliances with greater precision and consistency than traditional fabrication methods.
Appliances Used at Fredal Orthodontics
Dr. Fredal plans your treatment from the CBCT scan (a 3D X-ray), digital impression, and photographs taken at the free consultation. The free consultation is for new patients; a patient transferring from another orthodontist pays a consultation fee, credited toward treatment if they start here.
Retainers
Retainers are worn after braces or Invisalign treatment ends. They are made from a scan taken when the braces or the aligner attachments come off, and comprehensive treatment includes one set. Fredal Orthodontics offers Essix, Vivera and fixed retainers. Dr. Fredal prefers removable retainers. His plan is full-time wear for the first 1 to 3 months, then nighttime wear for life.
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Palatal Expander
A palatal expander is an appliance that sits across the palate (the roof of the mouth). In Phase 1 (early) treatment for children, Dr. Fredal uses the rapid palatal expander (RPE), fixed to the upper teeth. He also offers the removable Invisalign Palatal Expander for selected growing children, typically ages 7 to 12. Fredal Orthodontics was first in Michigan to offer it.
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MARPE / MSE Expander
MARPE, also called MSE, is a palatal expander held by TADs (temporary anchorage devices): small mini-screws in the roof of the mouth. Dr. Fredal offers it to older teens and adults. A surgeon outside the practice places the mini-screws.
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Herbst / MARA
For jaw advancement (bringing the lower jaw forward), Dr. Fredal prefers the Herbst and also uses the MARA. Both are fixed appliances attached to the back teeth.
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Headgear / Facemask
Reverse-pull headgear, also called a facemask, is a removable frame worn on the face, outside the mouth. It is the only headgear Dr. Fredal uses, and he uses it for growing children.
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Functional Appliances
Dr. Fredal uses the Forsus spring (a small spring fitted to the braces). For an oral habit, he fits habit appliances (small appliances worn in the mouth).
Learn moreHow Fredal Orthodontics Plans Your Appliance
Every case at Fredal Orthodontics is diagnosed in 3D. Dr. Fredal merges i-CAT CBCT images with iTero digital scans to diagnose and plan treatment. He looks at the roots of the teeth, the surrounding bone, the jaws and the airway, not only the crowns.
What he sees in the face, lips, bite and supporting bone can change whether he recommends expansion. He also weighs growth and dental development to decide when treatment should begin. He personally designs and oversees every treatment plan from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthodontic Appliances
Which orthodontic appliances does Fredal Orthodontics offer?
Fredal Orthodontics offers Essix, Vivera and bonded retainers, palatal expanders (the rapid palatal expander and the Invisalign Palatal Expander), the MARPE or MSE expander for older teens and adults, the Herbst, the MARA, the Carriere appliance, the Forsus spring, habit appliances and reverse-pull facemask headgear for growing children. Dr. Fredal recommends one after reviewing your 3D records.
Does Fredal Orthodontics make appliances in its own office?
Its clear Essix retainers, yes. The practice prints a model of your teeth on its SprintRay 3D printer and shapes the retainer over that model with heat, so an Essix retainer can often go home with you the same visit instead of waiting on an outside lab. Vivera retainers for Invisalign patients are ordered from Invisalign.
Which parts of appliance care happen outside the practice?
Three. Vivera retainers are made by Invisalign and ordered after the scan. Expanders and other metal appliances are digitally designed and 3D printed by a specialized orthodontic laboratory. When a case needs TADs (temporary mini-screws), such as for a MARPE expander, placement is referred outside the practice. Dr. Fredal still designs and oversees every treatment plan himself.
Is the cost of an appliance included in the treatment fee?
Yes. Every appliance a case needs is covered by the treatment fee, and the length of treatment does not change that fee. At the consultation, Dr. Fredal gives you the exact treatment cost in writing. Fees and payment options are on the braces cost page, and coverage is on the insurance page.
Are the appliances fixed to the teeth or removable?
Both kinds. A fixed appliance is bonded or cemented to the teeth and is not taken out at home: the rapid palatal expander, the Herbst, the MARA, the Forsus spring and a bonded retainer. A removable one comes in and out: Essix and Vivera retainers, the Invisalign Palatal Expander and reverse-pull facemask headgear.
Are orthodontic appliances only for children?
No. Fredal Orthodontics treats children, teens and adults, and the youngest patients are age 7. Dr. Fredal offers the MARPE or MSE expander for older teens and adults. The reverse-pull facemask is for growing children, and he uses the rapid palatal expander in Phase 1 treatment. He recommends an appliance after going over your complete 3D records with you.
Does Fredal Orthodontics use putty impressions?
No. Impressions are taken digitally with an iTero Lumina scanner instead of impression material. At a new-patient consultation, that scan is part of the records Dr. Fredal reviews with you, together with a CBCT scan and photographs. Read about the scanners Fredal Orthodontics uses.
How do I get help with an appliance problem between visits?
Call or text the office. Patients can also text photos and questions through Weave, and the clinical team reviews them during business hours and replies with next steps. After hours, existing patients can call or text the main line, and the team usually responds to after-hours and weekend emergency messages within 24 hours. For a loose or broken appliance, see orthodontic emergencies.
Which Appliance Does Your Case Need?
Your free consultation with Dr. Fredal includes a 3D CBCT scan on the i-CAT FLX V17. It also includes an iTero Lumina digital scan and photos. He goes over all your records with you and gives his treatment recommendation. You also get the exact treatment cost in writing.
*For new patients only. Patients transferring from another orthodontist: $250 consultation fee, credited toward treatment if they start here.