Orthodontic Assistant Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Orthodontic Assistant Exam. Study with flashcards, multiple-choice questions, and detailed explanations. Get ready for your exam success!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What type of appliance is frequently used to correct dental malocclusions?

Palatal expander
Headgear appliance
Retainer
Positioner

The correct answer is: Headgear appliance

The headgear appliance is commonly used to correct dental malocclusions by applying controlled force to the teeth and jaw. This appliance is designed to modify the position of the molars and influence the growth of the jaw, which can effectively address issues such as overbites or underbites. It is particularly beneficial for guiding the development of the maxilla (upper jaw) and maintaining space for future tooth alignment. The palatal expander is designed to widen the upper jaw, which can also help with certain types of malocclusions but serves a different primary purpose. Retainers are primarily used after orthodontic treatment to maintain the corrected position of teeth rather than correcting malocclusions. Positioners can help in refining the final position of the teeth post-braces but are not as commonly used for initial correction of malocclusions as the headgear appliance.