Other Orthodontic Appliances

Elastic Rubber Bands

These are common supplemental appliances used with braces to help move the teeth into proper alignment. The rubber bands connect to the brackets to force teeth into specific positions. They must be worn as directed to avoid prolonging treatment time due to a lack of desired movement in the teeth.

Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE)

For mouths where the upper arch is too narrow to properly fit with the lower arch, the upper arch must often be expanded. To accomplish this, an RPE device is placed to apply force to the upper arch for skeletal expansion. 

Separators

These are common devices to aid in the creation of space to allow for orthodontic bands. The separators are placed between adjacent teeth so that orthodontic bands can be fitted to the molar teeth. These devices can cause discomfort after being placed but are essential for the orthodontic treatment in many patients.

TADs 

Temporary Anchorage Devices, or TADs, are innovative devices that allow the orthodontist to move specific teeth in the desired direction without moving adjacent teeth. These devices are small titanium screws that are placed through the gum tissue and into the bone through a simple surgical procedure. These appliances can effectively shorten treatment time and reduce the need for other appliances.

Wedge

This device is used to correct excessive overbites. This is composed of an acrylic pad that is cemented to the back of the upper four front teeth during the eruption of the molars. When biting, the lower front teeth hit the acrylic pad and eliminate the deep bite. A wedge can help lessen the time spent in the second phase of orthodontic treatment by reducing the overbite.