Goodlettsville Dental Services

Orthodontic Spacer

Orthodontic separators (simply spacers) are rubber bands or sometimes metal appliances used in orthodontics before braces are applied on teeth or an expander is applied in the mouth and are put on the molars at the second orthodontic appointment. Spacers are circular rubber bands about a centimeter in diameter placed between top and bottom molars; there may be 1-12 spacers applied. The spacers stay between the teeth for one or two weeks and move the teeth apart slowly until they are far enough apart that the dentists can fit a tooth brace in between them or fit the expander with metal rings.

Why Spacers are Put on

Spacers are usually used to put spaces in between teeth before braces are established. It can be agitating or painful, but patients are warned not to pick at them or they will fall out. They are usually rubber, but sometimes they can be metal. They also can be used when a patient’s teeth are too close together. Although they are sometimes very painful, they usually only stay there for a week or two.

Removal

Spacers are worn until the orthodontist removes them or if they are removed accidentally, often by the patient who may chew gum and sticky foods which stick to the spacer and pull it out on some occasion. Sometimes, a dentist may use a spacer that is similar to a metal spacer (see below), but is removable and in some cases it may have a key or string to use to adjust the tightnessThese types of spacers are very similar to a retainer because of their ability to be removed. They are taken out the minute before braces are put on.

Pain

There are various reactions to having spacers placed between one’s teeth. If the patient has relatively no space between their molars (or none at all), the spacer may hurt from the irritated nerves in the gum of the mouth. In some cases the spacer digs into the gums and they begin to bleed and swell, for which orthodontists often hand out special anesthetics which numb the pain. Spacers are usually painful, although pain relievers can alleviate the pain if needed. When spacers are first applied, there is little to no pain at all; but the gum around the tooth often starts to hurt after 24 hours. Depending on the type, spacers may cause pain while chewing, making certain foods difficult to eat. Brushing will not cause spacers to be displaced, regular brushing while spacers are in place is encouraged.

To Get Rid of Pain

There isn’t much to do when you are in pain. There are only certain foods that do not hurt when there are spacers in one’s mouth. Examples are soup, yogurt, cooked vegetables, mashed potatoes, pasta, softer meats such as chicken, and canned fruits. If the patient still experiences pain after the first five hours he or she has spacers, chances are they will hurt the whole time. To get rid of pain, try to relax for a few hours, or to take the same medications used for headaches such as Tylenol. Note that if the medicine does not work after a while, the patient should stop taking it. You may also want to try drinking cold or chilled drinks to ease the pain and numb the sensation.

Application

The application process of spacers usually involves stringing floss through the rubber band and placing the spacer between the teeth. There is some pressure throughout the process and some soreness after, but overall the spacer application process is quite painless. Sometimes special orthodontic tools are used to stretch open the rubber bands, depending on how crowded the teeth are. If the jaw is especially crowded, the spacers may cause intense pain due to the teeth moving closer together. This pain begins a while after the spacers are put in place and can last for days.

Metal Spacers

Metal spacers are small metal bands placed around the tooth. These are most commonly used while braces are already on another set of teeth. These are often worn longer than rubber bands, and tend to cause more pain. These are not as commonly seen as rubber bands.