What’s in my mouth? A Brief Rundown of Orthodontic Appliances.

Are you curious what's in your mouth? Dr. Gonzales and our team correct the alignment of your teeth and jaws so that you can speak clearly, chew food effectively, and look attractive when you smile. We do this by putting sophisticated gadgets in your mouth. While many of these dental devices look similar, we use a wide variety of orthodontic appliances to straighten your teeth and repair jaw problems.

Orthodontic appliances are devices that move your teeth, change the position of your jaw, or hold your teeth in their finished positions after your braces are removed. These devices may be removable or attached to your teeth.

Braces straighten your teeth. Brackets, bands, and wires characterize traditional braces. Braces are attached to the teeth, so they are not easily removable.

Spacers or Separators are small plastic rings fitted between your back teeth before your braces. These spacers create space between your teeth that allow us to place bands on your back teeth that will serve as the "anchor brace".

Retainers hold teeth in their finished position after your braces come off. A Hawley retainer is the most common type of retainer and has been used for decades; it features an acrylic plate that rests against the roof of your mouth and a wire crossing in front of your teeth. Essex retainers have been in use for around 25 years and are quite popular, as they are durable and nearly invisible.

Bite plates are like a Hawley retainer and help correct a deep overbite, where the upper front teeth come down too far over the lower front teeth to cause bite problems.

Holding arches or Lingual Arches prevent the back teeth from moving forward to crowd the front teeth during the mixed dentition stage (age 7-11).  A lower lingual holding arch prevents your permanent molars from migrating forward. The Nance holding arch is used on the upper arch only and maintains the upper molar position while all of the other teeth erupt. This helps hold space open while your permanent teeth erupt. This is similar to the Lower holding arches.

A palatal expander widens your upper jaw by separating the bones of your palate. This appliance helps correct a posterior crossbite and helps your top and bottom teeth fit together better. 

The Quad Helix is also a palatal expander and widens your jaws to correct crossbites.

Contact our office today to learn more about the ways we can improve the appeal and function of your smile.