How do spacers work

When the spacers are applied, you may feel some discomfort or pressure: this means the spacer is successfully creating the necessary space in your teeth for the braces. It may feel as if you have a piece of food wedged between your teeth. Not everyone will need spacers: some people's teeth naturally have enough space between them to put on the metal bands, but most patients' teeth are naturally close together, and will require spacers if metal bands are used for their treatment.

It depends on your specific case: sometimes, the orthodontist will avoid using spacers and bands altogether. Invisalign clear aligners treatments, for instance, do not require spacers. The application process is simple: the orthodontist or an assistant will use a specialized instrument to install the spacer between two of your back teeth.

This procedure occurs about weeks before the bands are inserted. During the insertion procedure for metal bands, the spacers are removed and the bands are inserted over the back molars. The braces brackets are bonded to the teeth, and the archwire is inserted into bands and brackets. You will only get spacers for braces treatment: if you are straightening your teeth with removable clear aligners like Invisalign, you will not need spacers, and there is no other dental reason to get spacers except for braces treatment.

Not everyone will need spacers during their braces treatment, but it is a common aspect of treatment for many patients. Many people's teeth are nestled close to each other, so spacers are necessary to create a bit of space where the metal bands will go.

However, your orthodontist may not use metal bands for your treatment, depending on the specifics of your case. And some patients naturally have enough space between their teeth that they will not need orthodontic separators. In certain cases, spacers are worn for a longer part of your treatment or even throughout treatment, but in the majority of cases, patients who get spacers will wear them for weeks before getting the braces appliance installed.

Spacers are used to create a small amount of space between certain teeth to affix parts of the braces appliance. For that reason, you might experience some pressure when the spacers are applied, leading to discomfort or pain. The process of getting the spacers put in may be uncomfortable, but patients do not generally find this extremely painful. How much pain you feel is related to your sensitivity, as well as how tightly your teeth are nestled against each other.

For those with very tightly-placed teeth, the spacers may cause more discomfort. Many patients describe the discomfort as similar to having a piece of food wedged between the teeth. Our Ottawa orthodontist may recommend spacers if you need to wear molar bands metal loops that slip around back teeth for an expander or other common appliance. If you were to see a tooth spacer sitting on the counter, it would look like a very small rubber band.

Since the widths differ by a matter of millimetres, having them in different colours makes the selection process quite straightforward. A wider contact space may be necessary if you need some type of orthodontic band around a back tooth.

But there has to be space between your teeth for those bands to slip into place. All traditional braces patients will wear brackets and wires, but not all of them need orthodontic spacers. For braces wearers with tight or crowded teeth, spacers are more common.

They serve to create an extremely small amount of space between specific teeth that need room for a band to fit around them. So, you might only get two spacers one on either side of a tooth on each side of your mouth, usually around one of your back teeth. Otherwise, it will pull the spacer out from between your teeth. We bet you never thought you would hear a dentist or orthodontist say not to floss, right? You may need to get another set installed, or your orthodontist might decide that you already have enough space between your teeth.

Spacers are just the first step on the road to straighter, more evenly aligned teeth. If you have any problems with your spacers, call your orthodontist. And go easy on your teeth in the meantime. Braces work by exerting pressure on your jawline to change the way your smile appears. Read about what it's like to get and maintain your braces, as…. If you're getting braces, you may be wondering, how are braces put on?

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Here we break down the process and examine who makes a good candidate. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Who needs spacers? Types Procedure Do they hurt? Share on Pinterest. Does everyone need spacers before braces? Types of spacers. How spacers are inserted. Do spacers hurt more than braces?