Orthodontic Appliances

Appliances are used during various stages of the orthodontic process, either to retain the new position of teeth, or in some cases to influence the growth of the jaws for a better bite alignment. Appliances may be fixed or removable.

Types of Appliances

• Palatal Expander (RPE): Designed to widen your upper jaw, a palatal expander applies outward pressure on your upper molars to slowly expand your palate.
• Spacers (Separators): Spacers are plastic rings that are inserted between back teeth before you have braces, providing space for your teeth to shift. If a spacer comes out, call our office to see if you need a replacement. Do not chew sticky foods with or floss teeth that have spacers in them.
• Headgear: For a severe overbite or underbite, headgear is sometimes used to continuously pull on your teeth, restricting further growth forward.
• Space Maintainer: A small dental appliance that keeps space open when a baby tooth is lost too early. It prevents nearby teeth from shifting, so the adult tooth can come in correctly.