A facebow uses headgear to provide the force needed to move your jaw. There is so called “high pull” headgear, which has straps over the top of your head, and around your neck, and “cervical headgear” which only have straps around your neck.
In rare cases, the parts from the facebow have been known to go into a person’s eye. Sometimes, high pull headgear is the only alternative to surgery, and so an orthodontist will prescribe it. Still, we recommend that parents and children be very cautious around high pull facebows. Be sure that the facebow is inserted properly. Be sure you wear a safety strap. Be very cautious to make sure that the facebow does not come loose and hurt you.
If you find your facebow coming loose at night be sure to tell your orthodontist about it immediately. If the facebow comes loose, it could hurt you or even poke you in the eye (If that does happen, see a physician immediately). If the facebow comes loose, ask the orthodontist to adjust your safety strap. The safety strap needs to be tight enough that the facebow cannot come out of your buccal tubes. Use the tightest hole possible. Try out the facebow to make sure that it cannot come loose and hurt you.
Cervical headgear is less risky than high pull headgear but still not 100% safe. Some kids try to bend their facebows to make them more comfortable. They can weaken the facebow as they bend it which can cause the facebow to snap. DO NOT BEND YOUR FACEBOW – IT COULD SNAP AND HURT YOU. Insist that the orthodontist give you a facebow with breakaway modules and/or a safety strap. Ask the orthodontist’s assistant to carefully instruct you on the use of the facebow. Make sure that you do not bend the facebow, and uses the break away modules or safety strap whenever you are wearing the facebow.