Forward pull headgear
Forward-pull headgear, also called a protraction facemask, applies controlled forward force to the upper jaw through pads and an intraoral appliance d
The short answer
Forward-pull headgear, also called a protraction facemask, applies controlled forward force to the upper jaw through pads and an intraoral appliance during growth.
What jaw-growth problem can this orthodontic appliance address?
It is an orthodontic appliance for selected growing children with an underdeveloped or backward-positioned maxilla, often causing an underbite.
How should you wear and care for forward-pull headgear?
Wear it for the prescribed schedule, clean it, check the skin under its pads, and attend adjustment visits.
Which headgear problems require an orthodontic review?
Contact the orthodontic team for skin injury, severe pain, broken parts, numbness, or difficulty using it.
What should you ask about expected headgear movement?
Ask what jaw and tooth movement is expected, how daily wear is prescribed, and how progress will be measured.
Frequently asked questions
Can forward-pull headgear be used for more than one cause?
Yes. Examination identifies the relevant tooth, gum, jaw tissue, appliance, or contributing factor.
What should I tell the dentist?
Describe when it began, what triggers it, how it has changed, and any recent treatment, injury, or medicines.
Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.