Orthodontic Appliances
Separators
Separators are tiny rubber bands that fit between the teeth. These bands push the teeth apart to create the necessary space for braces metal bands to fit around the teeth. These bands are typically worn for about one to two weeks. Once this treatment is completed, we remove the spacers and place metal bands around the teeth. These metal bands are used to make appliances.
Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE)
A Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE) appliance widens the roof of your mouth by gently separating the suture in the center of your palate (upper jaw). This is done to expand the upper jaw to properly align with the lower jaw and/or create sufficient room for crowded teeth to grow in a healthy alignment. This device usually takes about two to four weeks to achieve the desired expansion. However, the appliance remains in place 6 months longer while the new bone fills into your newly expanded arch.
A Bonded RPE
A Bonded RPE is similar to a traditional RPE, except this one is bonded to the teeth. The bonded material is made of acrylic, and it covers the biting surfaces of the back teeth. These posterior bite blocks free up the occlusion, removing cuspal interferences. In other words, this treatment enables the top teeth to meet the bottom teeth evenly, without obstruction.
Lower Lingual Arch
Lower Lingual Arch is essentially a space maintainer appliance, used on the lower erupting permanent teeth. This orthodontic appliance includes two metal bands, fit around the lower 6-year molars, with an archwire that spans along the inside surfaces of the lower teeth. This device holds the lower molars in place, preventing them from shifting forward or inward.
The Tongue Habit Appliance
The Tongue Habit Appliance is a habit-correcting appliance, used to treat patients who have a tongue-thrusting or swallowing pattern. This appliance serves to guide the tongue up into a proper position in the mouth when swallowing. It also helps to discourage thumb-sucking. If left untreated, both of these mouth habits can cause protruding front teeth, narrow palate, mouth breathing, and crossbite.
The Spring Aligner
The Spring Aligner is similar to a Hawley retainer. This appliance is effective for making slight alignment adjustments, especially to moderately crowded front teeth. The Spring Aligner is made of acrylic and wire, and it can align the teeth rapidly if worn as instructed. Once the teeth are successfully aligned, the appliance can be worn part-time as a retainer to maintain the alignment.
Bite Turbos
Bite Turbos are small metal or acrylic “bumpers”, bonded to the molars to prevent to prevent the top teeth from excessively overlapping the bottom teeth. These are most often used for patients who have deep overbites. Bite turbo appliances maintain space between the upper and lower teeth and allow the back teeth to erupt in a healthy alignment, for permanent overbite correction.
The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device
The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device is a fixed appliance that shifts the lower jaw forward and the upper jaw backward. The Forsus is worn with a full set of braces, and it’s highly effective for correcting jaw discrepancies, overjet and overbite. The Forsus Springs on either side of the device provide the necessary pressure to ensure that the upper and lower teeth fit together properly.
Elastics (rubber bands)
Elastics (rubber bands) are hooked around a braces bracket on the top teeth and a braces bracket on the bottom teeth to align one arch to another. If you require rubber bands, our orthodontists will show you where to hook these and how frequently to wear them to ensure an efficient treatment. Not wearing the elastics will extend your treatment and compromise your end result!
