Braces, Headgear, Facebow and other orthodontic devices

I know that this a rare but not uncommon fetish in the real live: Wearing all types of orthodontic devices. From my knowledge it is some type of oral fetish, like some wear gags. Surely the real life experience is because it has some medical reason, not always very pleasureable, as i learned on my self a long time ago. Besides even the real life experience can start in later times some interest in this. In my nearly one year in second life i met 4 or 5 people with that interest, this indicates that there are some more, especially because there are some devices available also inworld and on the marketplace from some shops. In this article i want to give you a short overview of available things in Second Life, inspired by some real life examples. The slightest form of a brace, is the non fixed one which we dont cover here.



A short definiton of dental braces: "Dental braces (also known as orthodontic braces, or simply braces) are devices used in the orthodontic industry that help align and straighten teeth and help to position them with regard to a person’s bite, while also working to improve dental health. They are often used to correct under bites, as well as malocclusions, overbites, cross bites, open bites, deep bites, crooked teeth, and various other flaws of the teeth and jaw."

On the first picture on the upperside you see me with my fixed braces (of course you have to look in detail). These one are from Spiffy Stuff  - available in different versions: Translucent Ligatures, Girl Edition in pink, Boyz Edition in blue, Rainbow Edition, a so called Random Edition and a Emo Edition per 295L$ or for 595L$ the big pack wich includes all. All come with an Hud for several smiling animations, your braces should be seen or? Due to the limits of SL dont expect braces for your lower jaw. It would be possible to allign them to your lower teeths of course, but in the case of animations they would not move and look strange.

A more severe device is a headgear. In real life in different countries different popular. Due to to advance in surgery, maybe also about fiscal interests, and due to some different meanings of real effectivity it is not so often used anymore as in former times. And from my own experience i can say that it could be a real humilating experience to wear such a device but maybe thats the interest in it.

"The most common treatment headgear is used for is to correct anteroposterior discrepancies. The headgear attaches to the braces via metal hooks or a facebow. Straps or a head cap anchor the headgear to the back of the head or neck, in some situations both are used. Elastic bands are used to apply pressure to the bow or hooks. Its purpose is to slow or stop the upper jaw from growing, hence preventing or correcting an overjet."

There a different types of headgears. The most common is the standard Headgear. Like the traditional and simple name, this is the most traditional type of headgear. It is used to correct a Class Two malocclusion, and attaches to rings or bands that are cemented to the molars. It has three components:

    - The bands which are cemented or glued into the molar teeth
    - The u-shaped metal wire that goes into the tooth
    - A strap that goes around the back of the neck

The purpose of that is to push the upper molars backward and restrict the growth of the upper jaw by creating or acting as an anchor to pull back the upper front teeth. This is most commonly used in growing patients, rarely with adults, and we ask that it to be worn 12 to 14 hours per day, including while sleeping. It is not worn at school.

It takes a little bit of adjustment to get used to sleeping with it but most get used to it fairly quickly and should not experience any pain with this. It will be used anywhere from nine to 18 months, depending upon the goal of the treatment.

On this picture you see me with my headgear. This one is available on the market place only it seems: Dental Braces + Headgear (Facebow) + Random Smiler for 150L$, includes a configurable random smiler and also attached braces. From that creator are also only fixed braces available which have not tested.

Another type of headgear is the so called J-hook headgear. This is also used to correct a Class Two malocclusion but is less commonly used. Instead of attaching to the back molars, it attaches to the braces themselves at the front of the mouth. I have actually never seen one used but they do exist.

Exactly this type i did not find in second life so far besides one of my friends wear a similar one.

In her case together with a normal headgear above (she needs one) - the normal one she is wearing is a quite new one, available on the marketplace also: KayoKi : Braces - price 275L$. Colourable, also includes the open collars scripts, so an additional collar is not necessary anymore, and also some naughty parts like dildos you can attach to the front side.

Not exactly a headgear but also an orthodontic treatment device is a so called facemask or reverse pull headgear.

It is used to correct a Class Three malocclusion, which is more commonly known as an under-bite. 
What this means is that the upper front teeth are behind the lower front teeth. This can be caused by either a skeletal discrepancy, growth discrepancy between upper and lower jaws, or a dental discrepancy, where the upper and lower teeth are angled incorrectly, causing the underbite to form.

That is also availabe in second lifes marketplace: -RC- Orthodontic Corrections, prince 75$, and as it is modifiable with some editing you also can adjust the colours of the mask plates.  You see me with that device on the right picture.









There are some other intersting devices that are used in this field that until now not available in SL i would to mention:

So called elastic bands that are combined with fixed braces. Surely diffcult to realize in second life because of the limitations of the attachmentspoints in that area.

A different a very severe form of attaching a headgear with a so called headcap.

And a combination of a additional retainer device, which would be not seeable in second life or only slightly. But would limit speech more as the the normal headgear, which make you normally lisp a little bit, and in the begging a little bit drooling and slurping.

An last but not least a combination with a bio or activator which would make it in combination with an underjaw part nearly a gag.