Before braces are placed on your teeth, separators (sometimes called spacers) are placed between specific teeth to move them apart slightly and create space. This allows our orthodontists to easily place orthodontic bands (like a ring on a finger) on the teeth the following week.
Bands are rings that surround the whole tooth. They are placed on the large back molar teeth, which act as anchors. Since teeth normally contact each other very tightly, a separator is placed on the front and backsides of these molars to move these teeth apart slightly. This allows for easy placement of the band around the tooth.
Separators, also called spacers, are tiny rubber or metal rings placed between back teeth for a few days. They create just enough space for orthodontic bands, metal rings that fit around the molars and anchor appliances like expanders or braces.
The space they create is temporary and closes again once the bands are in place.
Usually a few days to about a week, until your next appointment when the bands or appliance are placed.
They can feel like food stuck between your teeth, and your teeth may be sore for a day or two. Soft foods, warm salt-water rinses and an over-the-counter pain reliever, if needed, help.
Call our office. If it comes out more than a day or two before your appointment, it may need to be replaced so there's enough space for your band.
Brush normally, but don't floss between the separated teeth until the separators are removed. Avoid sticky foods and gum, which can pull them out.
