This is an extra-oral appliance that was developed by J. Delaire and H. Petit in France and is used for the treatment of a protruded lower jaw (reverse lower-jaw overbite) in children and – to a limited extent – in adolescents. It consists of two pads – one on the chin and one on the forehead – which are connected together by strong wires. These wires are then joined by strong elastic bands to an anchor fixed in the upper teeth quadrant which shifts the upper jaw and the upper teeth forwards. At the same time, the growth of the lower jaw is somewhat inhibited.
Disadvantage of the Delaire-Mask is the undesirable but inevitable forward movement of the upper teeth. This effect can be prevented today by the additional use of temporary anchorage devices (TADs) in the upper jaw.
This appliance looks like it takes some getting used to but it is only worn at home and is generally well accepted by children. It is the most effective conservative treatment for a protruded lower jaw and for a long time had no real alternatives.
Since 2005, there has been the possibility to connect intraoral elastics with surgical jaw plates fixed in both jaws. This technique was conceived by H. de Clerk in Brussels and shows a higher effectiveness than the Delaire Mask, but it involves a minor operation.
For this reason, the Delaire Mask remains the standard treatment for mandibular forebite until further notice.