How Bold Bite Orthodontics Builds Appliances
Orthodontic appliances are the physical tools that move teeth, guide jaw growth, correct bite problems, and hold the final result once braces come off. Some are fixed to the teeth for the duration of treatment. Some are removable and worn for a specific number of hours each day. Some work silently overnight while a child is growing. All of them work better when they are designed from that patient’s anatomy rather than pulled off a standard-size shelf.
At Bold Bite Orthodontics in Jacksonville, every new-patient consultation starts with a Vatech Green CT scan, an iTero digital scan of the teeth, and a clinical exam shared by Dr. Trang Cao and Dr. Marty Greenberg. That workup — not a one-size protocol — determines whether a case needs expansion, growth modification, airway intervention, TAD anchorage, or a retention-only approach. Retainers, custom bands, and many working models are 3D-printed in-office; larger appliances like MARA, Herbst, and MARPE are designed from the same digital scan and fabricated by specialty labs to the practice’s specifications.
The practice intentionally keeps the appliance menu broad. A child with a narrow palate, an adult with nighttime snoring, a teen with a Class II overbite, and a patient finishing braces all need different tools, and referring out every case that falls outside a single-appliance comfort zone is not the standard Dr. Cao and Dr. Marty trained for. Every appliance below has been used at Bold Bite in the last year — with pricing and sequencing explained in plain language before treatment begins.
At Bold Bite Orthodontics in Jacksonville, every new-patient consultation starts with a Vatech Green CT scan, an iTero digital scan of the teeth, and a clinical exam shared by Dr. Trang Cao and Dr. Marty Greenberg. That workup — not a one-size protocol — determines whether a case needs expansion, growth modification, airway intervention, TAD anchorage, or a retention-only approach. Retainers, custom bands, and many working models are 3D-printed in-office; larger appliances like MARA, Herbst, and MARPE are designed from the same digital scan and fabricated by specialty labs to the practice’s specifications.
The practice intentionally keeps the appliance menu broad. A child with a narrow palate, an adult with nighttime snoring, a teen with a Class II overbite, and a patient finishing braces all need different tools, and referring out every case that falls outside a single-appliance comfort zone is not the standard Dr. Cao and Dr. Marty trained for. Every appliance below has been used at Bold Bite in the last year — with pricing and sequencing explained in plain language before treatment begins.
Appliances Used at Bold Bite
Every appliance below is planned by Dr. Marty or Dr. Cao from the CBCT scan, digital impression, and clinical exam taken at the free consultation, not from a default protocol. Tap any card for a full breakdown of when the appliance is used, how long it stays in, and what it costs.
IN-HOUSE 3D PRINTED
Retainers
Essix: see current fees
Essix, Vivera, and fixed retainers scanned on the day braces come off. Replacement retainers turn around in 2 to 2.5 weeks.
AUTO-EXPANDING OPTION
Palatal Expander
See current fees
Custom-fit palatal expander planned from the CBCT scan when the upper arch is narrow. MARPE placement is coordinated in-office for older teens and adults who have outgrown conventional expansion.
GROWING-JAW APPLIANCE
Herbst / MARA
Included with Treatment
Fixed bite-correctors for growing teens with a Class II overbite. Dr. Marty and Dr. Cao select between the MARA and Herbst case by case based on the CBCT workup.
Headgear / Facemask
Included with Treatment
Reverse-pull facemask or high-pull headgear for younger patients with skeletal imbalance. Usually paired with expansion and worn mostly at home.
Functional Appliances
Included with Treatment
Removable and fixed appliances that guide jaw growth during the mixed-dentition years. Selected when the CBCT shows skeletal imbalance, the bite cannot resolve on its own.
RARE OFFERING
Vertical Pull Chin Cup
Included with treatment
Controls excess vertical jaw growth in children with long-face tendency or open-bite risk. Used selectively, alongside expansion and airway work.
AIRWAY COORDINATED
Snoring / MAD Appliance
See current fees
Custom mandibular advancement device for adult snoring and mild-to-moderate sleep apnea, prescribed in coordination with a sleep medicine physician or ENT.
Accelerated Treatment
Case-by-case
Shorter treatment where the diagnosis supports it, high-frequency vibration or bone-remodeling protocols paired with weekly or biweekly aligner changes.
Why Bold Bite Orthodontics Appliances Are Different
Most orthodontic offices order appliances from a catalog in standard sizes and adjust them to fit the patient chairside. Bold Bite Orthodontics designs each appliance from the individual patient’s 3D scan and CBCT and has it manufactured to clinical specifications. The difference shows up in comfort, fit, failure rate, and how quickly a plan moves.
3D Scanned and Custom-Designed
Every appliance starts with an iTero or Allied Star digital scan and a Vatech Green CT — no goopy impressions, no stock sizes. Each device is manufactured from the patient’s individual tooth and jaw geometry.
Retainers Ordered Before Debond
An iTero scan taken before the debond visit is sent to the practice’s retainer lab (Retainer Club), which removes the digital brackets from the model so retainers are ready and waiting on debond day, no gap in protection. Replacement retainers have no membership fee, and a rush Essix can be made in office when needed, typically same or next business day.
Auto-Expanding Options
For the right case, Bold Bite uses self-activating auto-expanding appliances instead of the traditional parent-key Hyrax — slow continuous force, fewer chair visits, less of the nightly family argument over turning the key.
MARPE for Older Teens & Adults
Mini-screw-assisted rapid palatal expansion is coordinated in-office when the CBCT shows the upper arch is still correctable non-surgically past the teen years. Surgical partners are activated only when the anatomy requires it.
Airway Screening Built In
AI-assisted airway analysis runs on every new-patient CBCT. When snoring, mouth breathing, or constriction shows up on the scan, Bold Bite coordinates with ENT and sleep medicine instead of ignoring it. Mandibular advancement devices are prescribed in that coordinated plan, not as a standalone product.
Transparent Appliance Pricing
Retainers, expanders, MARA/Herbst add-ons, and MAD fees are quoted before treatment starts. In-house 0% APR financing spreads larger appliance fees across the plan — no surprise front-desk add-ons. Current fees are on our braces cost page.
Appliances Pricing at a Glance
Representative fees for the appliances most often used at Bold Bite Orthodontics. Every plan is quoted in writing at the consultation and covered by in-house 0% APR financing.
| Appliances | Typical Fee | When it Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Essix retainer (per arch) | at a fee set before treatment starts | Standard clear retainer scanned the day braces come off. Replacements stay in the Retainer Club. |
| Retainer Replacement | Same fee for Angel and Vivera | Reorder after loss or breakage. 2 to 2.5 week turnaround from the practice’s retainer lab; in-office rush available when needed. |
| Palatal expander (Phase 1) | See current fees | Narrow upper arch in a growing child or teen. Includes fitting, activation, and removal visits. |
| MARPE (mini-screw expansion) | Quoted at consult | Older teens and adults who would otherwise need SARPE surgery. Coordinated in-office with a periodontal partner for screw placement. |
| MARA or Herbst (Class II corrector) | Included with the braces fee | Fixed bite-corrector for growing teens with overbite driven by jaw position. |
| Headgear / reverse-pull facemask | Included with treatment | Class III cases in young children; 14 hours/day minimum wear. |
| Vertical pull chin cup | Included with treatment | Selective use for vertical growth control in long-face or open-bite risk cases. |
| Snoring / MAD appliance | current fees | Adult mild-to-moderate sleep apnea or snoring, prescribed with a sleep physician or ENT. |
All fees quoted in writing at the free consultation. Military, teacher, healthcare, family, and student discounts stack one at a time — the patient receives whichever single discount is highest.
What Families Say
Positive experiences from users who have benefited from Bold Bite Orthodontics services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who picks which appliance my case needs?
Dr. Trang Cao and Dr. Marty Greenberg both review the CBCT, iTero scan, and clinical exam from the consultation and jointly decide which appliances, if any, a case requires. They are a married orthodontic team and see every patient at every appointment — there is no rotating associate model at Bold Bite Orthodontics. If the diagnosis does not require a particular appliance, it is not proposed.
Are appliances included in the treatment fee, or are they extra?
Most appliances used inside a comprehensive braces or aligner plan — headgear, facemask, functional appliances, chin cup, MARA, Herbst — are included in the stated treatment fee. Phase 1 expanders are quoted separately because Phase 1 treatment is its own stage. Retainers and MAD airway appliances are quoted individually. Every fee is written into the financial agreement before treatment begins, with no surprise add-ons at the front desk
Does Bold Bite make retainers in-house?
Retainers are made possible without a gap by scanning before the debond visit. An iTero scan is taken at the appointment before braces come off and sent to the practice’s retainer lab (Retainer Club), which finishes the retainers in time for debond day. Replacement retainers are reordered through the same lab, with no membership fee. For a patient moving away or in an urgent situation, an Essix retainer can be made in office as a rush option (a rush fee applies), typically ready the same or next business day.
What is an auto-expanding appliance?
An auto-expanding palatal expander uses a built-in spring mechanism to apply slow continuous force instead of the daily parent key-turn on a traditional Hyrax. For the right growing child, it reduces the nightly household friction around compliance, requires fewer adjustment visits, and delivers steady physiologic expansion. It is one option among several — the CBCT and arch width dictate which expander mechanism is chosen.
Do you place TADs (mini implants) in-office?
For anchorage TADs used in complex tooth-movement cases, Bold Bite refers placement to Dr. Doug Storch at Modern Perio so the implant is placed by a periodontist in a dedicated surgical setting. MARPE mini-screws for palatal expansion are coordinated in-office when that approach is indicated. Either way, the orthodontic plan stays at Bold Bite.
What if my child already has an appliance from another orthodontist?
Bold Bite offers second-opinion consultations but does not currently accept transfer-in mid-treatment cases. Bring the current appliance, any records from the prior office, and the last set of x-rays if available — the consultation is free and kids under 18 remain so regardless of whether they ultimately continue at Bold Bite. Dr. Cao and Dr. Marty review what is working, what is not, and whether the child would be better served continuing with the original orthodontist or seeking a different practice for the remainder of treatment.
