Brooklyn
Let's Get Social!


The ALF Appliance: A More Effective Way to Fix Orthodontic Problems

The ALF Appliance: A More Effective Way to Fix Orthodontic Problems


Braces have always been the normal way to align the teeth of children, teenagers, and adults. Though braces may straighten your smile, they do not actually correct any underlying issues in your mouth. Straight teeth will not matter if the bone above and below it is not aligned properly, since it will not be stable long term.

This is where an ALF appliance comes into play. ALF stands for “advanced lightwire functional” appliance. It is used to expand the jaw laterally and anteriorly with a more natural approach to growth and development.

Orthodontists generally use a device called the rapid palatal expander to gain space in the maxilla, also known as the upper jaw. These expanders are made with a heavy wire and are tightened using a key, which often requires heavy force. When used on children, parents are the ones tightening the key. Any wrong move could cause bleeding or even irreversible damage in the mouth.

Janet Stoess-Allen, DMD—the owner of Park Avenue Orthodontics on the Upper East Side—used rapid palatal expanders on her patients for many years. She did not know of anything else that was available to accomplish these goals. Then, about 15 years ago, she was at an orthodontic conference in California and listened to Darick Nordstrom, DDS, speak about his revolutionary invention: the ALF appliance. 

“It just really rang a bell for me and all of the misconceptions that I had about the old-fashioned palatal expander all of a sudden didn’t matter because I knew that I would never use it again,” Stoess-Allen said.

Unlike the rapid palatal expander, the ALF appliance offers a more natural approach because it uses light force to progressively shift the maxilla. Not only does it fix any jaw problems, but it also opens nasal and oral airway spaces to help people who may snore or have nasal congestion. It also promotes proper tongue positioning to encourage good breathing and midfacial development and can reduce the risk of sleep apnea.

Stoess-Allen uses the ALF appliance on patients of all ages and uses it in conjunction with braces or Invisalign/Teen Invisalign. The appliance is placed behind the teeth, so it is unobtrusive in the mouth. She has been using it in her practice for the past 15 years on more than 1,000 of her patients.

“It changed my entire practice from one where I was uncomfortable using something on patients and really felt like it could create problems, to something that I’m never concerned with, and the results are superior,” Stoess-Allen said.



According to the ALF website, there are only 19 practices in the state of New York to offer the appliance for patients. These include dentists, orthodontists, doctors of osteopathy, and orofacial myologists. Not just anyone can offer the use of the ALF appliance. It requires a learning curve and attention to be able to activate it on a patient and it took Stoess-Allen years of her own personal time to master it, as it was not offered in her orthodontic residency program at NYU.

“My feeling is that many other practitioners will begin to use it over the years to come once it becomes part of the learning curriculum during dental school and orthodontic residencies,” Stoess-Allen said.

Stoess-Allen has noticed the trend of parents doing their own research to make sure they opt for the best treatment for their children. Many of them call her to ask about the ALF appliance because they are wary of the rapid palatal expander, or have seen her use it in a YouTube video and want more information. In addition, many pediatric dentists, pediatricians, ENT specialists, and other physicians have been referring patients to Dr. Stoess-Allen so that they can benefit from treatment with the ALF.

“It’s my obligation to my patients to keep up with the latest technology and all of the great things that are being invented, and not settling for what we historically learned was okay to use,” Stoess-Allen said.


Main image: A girl visits a dental clinic
Courtesy Bigphoto/stockyimages
 

RELATED:

Find Dental Providers Near You

Read More Stories About Kids' Health



More Articles:

Brighter, Bigger, and Better Than Ever—Planet Hollywood Returns to New York

Like many of us who grew up in the 90s, you probably have fond memories of pop culture touchstones like NSYNC, “The Rachel,” Nintendo gaming, and bloc...


Latest News:

Former Student is New Owner of Tumble-Bee Gymnastics in Rockland

Cheryl Holm of Tumble-Bee Gymnastics passes the torch to former student Marie Wood as the Rockland County school enters its 37th year in business.


Family Activities:



Have a Laugh:

Best Memes of the Week for Parents

Here are the funniest parenting memes from Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit this week.

Featured Listings:

Changing Tomorrow Academy

Changing Tomorrow Academy

Brooklyn, NY Changing Tomorrow Academy is a brand new state of t he art facility located Downtown Brooklyn. Offering educators and medical providers onsite. We ...

FTKny.com

FTKny.com

FTKny.com Unlock your child’s gifted potential. Here at FTKny.com we have the largest selection of child-centered, play-based and educational enrichme...

Max Adventures Party Center

Max Adventures Party Center

Brooklyn, NY Remember your birthdays as a kid? You couldn’t wait to have your friends and family come. All those presents, the cake, the entertainment and the fun!...

JCC Brooklyn

JCC Brooklyn

JCC Brooklyn Summer Day Camps provide a safe and exciting environment where children can build lifelong friendships and unforgettable experiences that...