Dentists often use braces as the go-to treatment option if you have bite and teeth alignment problems. Braces encourage the jaw and teeth to move slowly into the correct positions, creating a beautiful smile, which can enhance your self-esteem and maintain oral health. However, your dental expert can recommend using spacers before fitting braces. Spacers are vital to most orthodontic treatment plans, but most patients do not understand spacers and their purpose. Also known as separators, orthodontic spacers are tiny devices consisting of metal clips or rubber bands placed between the teeth. The purpose of orthodontic spacers is to create space between the teeth prior to fitting braces or other orthodontic appliances. Dentists use spacers when a patient’s teeth are too close together, making it challenging to place braces. Spacers push the teeth apart, creating room for orthodontic appliances.

Understanding Orthodontic Spacers

When a dental expert recommends braces, the dentist will examine your teeth to ascertain if you are eligible for the appliances. Spacers are vital for creating space between the teeth, preparing them for band and bracket placement.

Once the dental expert puts spacers on your teeth, they will work by exerting a slight pressure on them. This will encourage gaps to develop, making it easier to put braces and ensure they serve their intended purpose. Retainers and braces can only work well if they are in the right place, and spacers are essential because they prepare your teeth for them.

Types Of Spacers

The common types of orthodontic spacers include:

Interdental Spacer

Interdental spacers are small rubber bands that dentists put between the teeth to create space. They are worn for several days to one week before the next visit. Interdental spacers can be adjusted as required and are easy to use. Unfortunately, interdental spacers can be uncomfortable and can cause soreness or discomfort.

Separators

Separators are similar to interdental spacers but are made of metal and put between the teeth using a special instrument. You can wear them for a longer time, usually one to two weeks before the next dental visit. They are more durable than interdental spacers. Separators are also less likely to become dislodged or break. Unfortunately, they can cause some discomfort and soreness. They can also be more uncomfortable than interdental spacers.

Orthodontic Band

Orthodontic bands are small metal rings placed around the teeth to create space. They can be worn for a few weeks before the next visit. Orthodontic bands are longer-lasting than interdental spacers and separators and are unlikely to become dislodged or break. They are also more uncomfortable than the other types of spacers and cause some discomfort or soreness.

Factors To Consider When Choosing Orthodontic Spacers

There are various factors you should consider when choosing orthodontic spacers.

  • Your comfort level should be taken into account. Separators and interdental spacers can cause some discomfort, while orthodontic bands can cause more pain.

  • You should also consider the period you will wear the spacer. An interdental spacer can be the best if you want to wear it briefly. An orthodontic band or a separator can be the best if you intend to wear a spacer for a longer period.

  • Your age and dental development are essential factors that should also be considered. Orthodontic bands and separators are suitable for older patients with fully developed teeth. On the other hand, interdental spacers are ideal for younger patients with developing teeth.

  • You should also consider the spacing issue or the severity of the crowding. An interdental spacer is best if the spacing or crowding is mild. Orthodontic bands or separators are best if the spacing or crowding is severe.

  • The material and type of spacer are also crucial factors that should be considered. Metal spacers are long-lasting and best for longer-term space maintenance or when a big space is required. Rubber spacers are comfortable and flexible and are often used to create faster space.

  • Oral hygiene is also a key factor when choosing a spacer for your teeth. You should select a design that allows effective flossing and brushing to prevent plaque buildup and maintain good oral hygiene.

Candidates For Orthodontic Spacers

Not every person undergoing orthodontic treatment will require spacers. Your dentist might decide that you do not require them if:

  • Your treatment plan has specific needs, which do not necessitate creating extra space

  • You are undergoing a type of orthodontic treatment that does not use molar bands like certain types of clear aligners

  • You naturally have sufficient spaces between your back teeth

Your dentist will assess your teeth during your initial orthodontic visit. This will help the dentist determine your spacer eligibility as part of your personalized treatment plan.

The Procedure Of Placing Spacers

The procedure of placing a spacer is relatively fast and straightforward. The dentist will do the following during your spacer appointment:

  • Establish where spacers should be put, usually between molars

  • Stretch the rubber spacer using specialized tools or dental floss

  • Slide the spacer carefully between the intended teeth

  • Once placed on your teeth, the spacer will exert gentle but consistent pressure on the teeth

The dentist can take ten to 15 minutes to put the spacer between your teeth. You will experience pressure when each spacer is positioned, which can cause mild discomfort, but the process is not painful.

You can experience a sensation of pressure between your teeth after placement. This can happen where the spacers are working. This is a sign that spacers are creating space between the teeth, which were previously touching.

Removing Spacers

After one to two weeks, the dentist will remove the spacers when they have successfully created sufficient space. The process of removing the spacers is faster than the placement, and it involves the following:

  • The dentist will use a small tool to hook and gently remove each spacer

  • The removal is often painless if the spacers have worked effectively

  • The spacers can fall out sometimes by themselves before your visit

Your dentist will proceed with fitting the molar bands and installing the braces immediately after removal.

What You Should Do If Spacers Fall Out

It is common for spacers to fall off before braces are placed on the teeth. You can handle this situation in the following ways:

  • Spacers can fall off within one to two days of your scheduled braces placement. This shows that spacers have already created sufficient space.

  • You should contact your dentist if spacers fall off earlier in the process, a few days or one week before your scheduled brace placement. The dentist can replace the spacers to ensure sufficient space is created.

  • You should still call your dental expert for guidance if only some spacers fall off while others remain in place. This means the treatment plan requires adjustment.

Avoid replacing spacers yourself because improper placement can cause pain and ineffective spacing.

Managing Discomfort And Pain With Spacers

Spacers can cause discomfort even if they are essential. Fortunately, any pain is short-lived and manageable. You can experience soreness and pressure between the teeth where the spacers are located when the spacers are first placed. This will happen because spacers will be actively pushing the teeth apart. As a result, tension is created in the periodontal ligaments, which hold your teeth in place.

You can experience more discomfort within the first two to three days after placement, and it clears slowly. Most patients hardly notice their spacers by the end of the first week because their teeth adjust to the new position.

Whether Spacers Are Painful Than Braces

Most patients claim that spacers cause more intense initial pain than braces themselves. This often occurs when spacers actively create space between the teeth, which generally want to stay close together. Fortunately, spacer pain is short-lived, usually peaking for only two to three days. On the other hand, braces pain tends to be mild but lasts a longer time.

Options For Pain Relief For Orthodontic Spacers

The following approaches can help if you are experiencing pain from your spacers:

  • You can take over-the-counter pain medication like Advil, Motrin, and Tylenol. You should take the medication before the pain increases. Avoid waiting for severe pain before taking medication.

  • Apply an ice pack or a cold compress to the outside of your cheek for ten to 15 minutes. Take cold beverages or foods like smoothies, yogurt, or ice cream that can numb the area.

  • Rinse with warm salt water (eight ounces of water and one teaspoon of diluted salt) several times daily. Eat soft foods that do not need heavy chewing.

Your dentist can discourage you from using topical oral numbing gels because they irritate gum tissue and wear off faster.

Taking Care Of Spacers

The following are some of the ways of taking care of spacers:

Do Not Miss Dental Appointments

After placing spacers, most patients only visit their dentists when something is wrong. Honoring your appointments will help the dentist identify minor issues before they worsen. It also enables you to build a trustworthy and comfortable patient-dentist relationship. You will be able to discuss your worries and fears the more you trust your dental expert. This will lead to a more enjoyable experience.

The dentist is there to assist in keeping you healthy, like your primary care doctor. If spacers cause pain in your mouth, you should let your dentist examine the area and take necessary action. You are also free to ask questions about various treatment methods.

Use An Antibacterial Mouthwash

Mixing mouthwash into your routine dental health regimen is an added defense against bacteria in your mouth. Mouthwash will enter your teeth's soft tissue and crevices that your brush cannot reach.

Reduce Sugar Intake

Sugary foods and drinks like soda, desserts, and a handful of alcoholic beverages and juices can put your teeth at a higher risk of cavities. Cavities are bacterial infections created by acids in your mouth. A diet high in sugar will enable harmful bacteria to feed on it. This can also affect the performance of spacers.

Stop Smoking

Smoking can cause discoloration of spacers apart from causing serious health concerns like cancer. Your teeth can also weaken because of smoking, affecting the performance of the spacers.

Floss Regularly

Flossing around the spacers is essential because it removes food particles stuck around the teeth. You should do this at least once daily before bedtime or after each meal.

Brush Your Teeth Three Times A Day

Brush your teeth after every meal using a soft-bristle toothbrush. This will prevent food particles from sticking on the spacers and will ensure your spacers are getting the appropriate cleaning. You should do this carefully for two to three minutes.

Avoid Hard Foods

After fitting orthodontic spacers, your dentist can advise you to stay away from certain foods. You should avoid sticky or hard foods, including:

  • Chewing gum

  • Candy, caramel, and gummy bears

  • Food that requires prolonged chewing, like tough meat

You should avoid these foods to ensure that spacers work effectively to achieve their intended purpose.

Spacers And Other Orthodontic Devices

Spacers are one component in the dental treatment procedure. They are designed for a specific purpose, unlike other devices. Spacers and elastics used during braces treatment work differently, even if they look the same.

Spacers are placed on the teeth before braces as a preparatory phase. On the other hand, elastics are an active component of braces treatment. They are used to correct bite alignment and are later used in the orthodontic process. You can track your progress through different steps of orthodontic treatment if you understand these differences. It will be easy to distinguish between preparation with spacers and active treatment with braces and elastics.

Spacers represent a brief step as you prepare for your orthodontic journey. They often take only one to two weeks before you receive your braces. Spacers can cause short-lived pain, but they play a significant role in achieving the beautiful smile you are working toward.

Find an Experienced Orthodontic Dentist Near Me

Spacers are the first step in your journey to obtaining braces to straighten your teeth. Your dentist can recommend orthodontic spacers if you do not have sufficient space for the placement of braces. Usually, patients wear orthodontic spacers for a short period, ranging from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the orthodontic appliances to be placed and the space required. It is normal to experience mild pain and discomfort after the placement of orthodontic spacers. However, you should contact your dentist if the pain is excessive or lasts for more than a few days. After the placement of orthodontic spacers, ensure that you take good care of your teeth for the spacers to work well.

For more guidance and placement of orthodontic spacers, contact Northridge Advanced Dentistry. Call us at 818-701-3010 to speak to one of our dentists.