I have two retainers in my mouth right now...the top one was cemented to my teeth (I talk funny) and the bottom one I can take out...anyways, when the retainers are out, my dentist is going to put this appliance in my mouth to move my jaw forward. Have any of you ever had this? this appliance I can not take out...my dentist said it would be hard for me to get used to eating with it in...

If you have had it before, how long was it in your mouth for and when I get it, will my jaw be stretched forward (as far as it can go) for the whole time? My jaw isn't that far back...so I don't see why it would take long...

Are you talking about the "Herbst" appliance?

My son had it on for about a year. Yes, it did bring his jaw forward a bit. A previous orthodontist was talking about surgery--we didn't want to go in that direction. It's a lot of metal, but like any other appliance, he got used to it. It made a difference in his profile.

[This message has been edited by ILMom (edited 04-18-2002).]